Department for Transport

British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made for the number of British nationals that have booked flights to countries that have not formed reciprocal quarantine-free travel arrangements with the UK.

Kelly Tolhurst: We have not made such an estimate for the number of British nationals that have booked flights to countries that have not formed reciprocal quarantine-free travel arrangements with the UK. Our approach to travel corridors has been guided by the science and worked closely with health and policy experts from across government to ensure the steps we are taking will minimise the risk of importing COVID-19 cases, while helping to open our travel and tourism sector.

Aviation: Coronavirus

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with representatives of the aviation industry and airlines on resuming flights to countries that have not formed reciprocal quarantine-free travel arrangements without warning UK nationals that they may be refused entry to those countries.

Kelly Tolhurst: The government has regular discussions with the aviation industry on a range of issues. The industry is aware that the Health Regulations relating to the self-isolation requirements remain under constant review and are currently subject to a formal review every 28 days. The next review will be on 27 July 2020. The destinations airlines fly to are commercial decisions for those airlines. The government’s guidance is clear that those travelling abroad should check Foreign and Commonwealth Office coronavirus advice and travel advice before they travel. This advice states that passengers will have to comply with coronavirus requirements in the country that they are travelling to, and this may include self-isolating.

Driving under Influence: Training

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is taking to approve plans for the Drink Drive Rehabilitation course to be delivered online.

Rachel Maclean: The Drink Drive rehabilitation (DDR) course was designed to be delivered in face-to-face group sessions and has been evaluated as successfully reducing repeat drink-drive offences by those who have completed the course. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is reviewing whether courses could be delivered entirely on-line with the same success rate for reducing repeat drink-drive offences as the current classroom-based course.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Standards

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the DVLA is meeting its service standards for (a) driver services, (b) drivers medical services and (c) vehicle services.

Rachel Maclean: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has remained open throughout the pandemic and its online services have operated as normal. The DVLA’s 6,000 staff are predominantly based in one office in Swansea and to adhere to social distancing requirements there is a greatly reduced number of staff on-site at any one time. As a result, there are delays in dealing with paper applications that have been posted to the DVLA as these have to be dealt with in person. The DVLA is working to process applications across all its vehicles and drivers’ services as quickly as possible.

Railways: Job Creation

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussion he had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the role of the rail industry in job creation in advance of the Summer economic update statement.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Secretary of State for Transport has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues regarding the vital role of the transport sector including the rail industry in re-igniting the economy.The Treasury is fully engaged in the development of all our transport schemes, including our commitment to invest around £48 billion in maintaining and upgrading the rail network in the period from 2019 to 2024. Not only will this increase reliability and punctuality for passengers, it will help improve connectivity and strengthen local economies.The Secretary of State for Transport will continue to work closely with the Chancellor, including on Project Speed, to make sure we are building and delivering transport that will help drive the UK's recovery from Covid-19.

Buses: Hydrogen

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the production and use of hydrogen buses in the UK.

Rachel Maclean: The Government has supported the use of a range of low carbon bus technologies, including hydrogen buses and supporting infrastructure, through funds including the Low Emission and Ultra-Low Emission Bus Schemes. In February, the Government announced a £5 billion funding package for buses and cycling, which includes support for the purchase of at least 4,000 zero-emission buses. The details of these programmes, including technology options and how funding will be distributed, will be announced in due course.

Buses: Hydrogen

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when plans to announce further information on introducing a (a) hydrogen bus town scheme and (b) hydrogen hub.

Rachel Maclean: The Transport Secretary is exploring options for using hydrogen in transport. Further details will be announced in due course.

Crossrail Line

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has with Transport for London on the timescale for when Crossrail will be fully operational; and what the status is of that project.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department has regular discussions with Transport for London, regarding the timescales for when Crossrail will be fully operational. In January, Crossrail Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London, announced that it planned to open the central section of the railway in summer 2021 and the full Elizabeth line by mid-2022. On March 24, Crossrail ceased all physical work at its construction sites, in line with TfL’s decision to pause work on project sites during the covid-19 pandemic. Works have now restarted as part of Crossrail’s Recovery Plan, which will include an update of cost and schedule forecasts.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Economic Growth: Coronavirus

Nickie Aiken: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he is taking steps to maximise human wellbeing and minimise environmental harms under a sustainable programme of economic recovery from the covid-19 outbreak.

Kwasi Kwarteng: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has undertaken an intensive programme of engagement to inform the Government's approach to economic recovery from the COVID-19 outbreak. One of the five key themes guiding this process is that of creating a 'green recovery'. In his speech of June 30, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear that in recovering from COVID-19, we must build back greener. The UK has shown that growing our economy and cutting emissions can be achieved at the same time. Last week, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a package of over £3 billion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, which will support up to 140,000 green jobs. This includes £50m to demonstrate innovative approaches to retrofitting social housing at scale, to start the decarbonisation of social housing over 20/21; a £2 billion ‘Green Homes Grant’ to help people improve the efficiency of their homes accelerating progress towards net zero, while supporting jobs and reducing energy bills; and, £1 billion investment over the next year in a new Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to upgrade public sector buildings, including schools and hospitals, making them fit to help meet net zero with energy efficiency and low carbon heat measures. This comes as part of our commitment to ensuring that the UK's economic recovery is sustainable, placing human well-being centre stage by promoting a safe, clean and healthy environment for citizens to live and work in.

Business: Government Assistance

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to support and incentivise businesses to improve their levels of environmental responsibility.

Kwasi Kwarteng: We have an ambitious range of policies in place to help business and industry to improve energy efficiency, decarbonise and reduce costs. Our Climate Change Agreement Scheme allows energy intensive participants to pay significantly reduced main rates of the Climate Change Levy in exchange for delivery of energy efficiency or carbon reduction targets. The Government’s Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme is a mandatory energy assessment scheme which requires large businesses to identify cost-effective energy saving measures. Our Industrial Energy Transformation Fund – a £315 million fund - supports industry to improve energy efficiency, cut energy bills and shift to lower carbon energy and processes. The Government has also committed £170 million in its Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge towards deploying technologies like carbon capture and hydrogen networks in industrial clusters, supporting our Mission to establish the world’s first net zero cluster by 2040. Finally, we have introduced a new Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) framework in April 2019 to simplify reporting requirements on energy use and emissions while increasing corporate transparency – further incentivising energy efficiency and reducing emissions.

Airbus: Government Assistance

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on what day he held discussions with representative from AirBus on safeguarding jobs in that company; and what support the Government has provided to that company during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Government regular meets with Airbus to discuss a wide range of business issues. Details of meetings held by Ministers in the Department are recorded in our transparency data, which is published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/beis-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings. Airbus is benefiting from the Government’s £300 billion Covid-19 business support package, which includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Aerospace companies, such as Airbus, are also benefiting from over £6.25 billion of through the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility, as well as our grants for research and development, and through UK Export Finance over the next 18 months.

Solar Events

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Civil Contingencies Secretariat on the UK's preparedness for a coronal mass ejection.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The UK has one of the most robust energy systems in the world. The Department works closely with the Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) on preparedness, resilience, and emergency planning for the risks to critical energy infrastructure, including Severe Space Weather. Severe Space Weather was added to the UK’s National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA) in 2011.The CCS works closely with Lead Government Departments, including BEIS, to periodically update the NSRA, to ensure robust mitigations are in place. The Government, working and engaging extensively with National Grid, other infrastructure operators and the Met Office Space Weather Operation Centre (MOSWOC), has taken significant steps to ensure the UK’s preparedness for major space weather events, such as a Coronal Mass Ejection. Additionally, in October 2019, the UK Government announced a £20m boost to predict severe space weather events. This nearly quadruples investment from government into research that can improve systems at the Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre. This will further build the UK’s knowledge on how to forecast and better prepare for these space weather events.

Solar Events

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the National Grid on preparedness for a coronal mass ejection.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The UK has one of the most robust energy systems in the world. Our power network is resilient and built to withstand impacts from weather conditions, including Severe Space Weather. The Government, working and engaging extensively with National Grid, other infrastructure operators and the Met Office Space Weather Operation Centre (MOSWOC), has taken significant steps to ensure the UK’s preparedness for major space weather events, such as a Coronal Mass Ejection. Additionally, in October 2019, the UK Government announced a £20m boost to predict severe space weather events. This will further build the UK’s knowledge on how to forecast and better prepare for these space weather events. National Grid are ensuring preparedness by increasing the number of transformer spares to help minimise timescales to replace damaged equipment. They are also replacing high voltage transformers with new designs which are more resilient and resistant to extra currents and undertaking emergency exercises aimed at improving knowledge, resilience, and response capability.

Travel: Repayments

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to ensure that travel companies refund consumers in a more expedient manner; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Scully: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued guidance to explain to consumers and business the circumstances when refunds are due as a consequence of the disruption caused by the Covid-19 outbreak. The Government is clear that these refunds must be paid when asked for by the consumer. The CMA has a programme of work to ensure refunds arising from the Covid-19 outbreak are paid. If the CMA finds evidence that companies are failing to comply with the law, the CMA will take appropriate enforcement action, which could include taking a firm to court if it does not address its concerns. The CMA has also set up a Covid-19 taskforce for consumers to register complaints, available through: https://www.coronavirus-business-complaint.service.gov.uk/.

National Grid: Finance

John McNally: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what additional (a) funding and (b) resources his Department has allocated to the National Grid for increased resilience of the grid since the blackouts of August 2019.

Kwasi Kwarteng: Following the power disruption that occurred on 9th August 2019, the Energy Emergencies Executive Committee (E3C) conducted a review of the incident to identify lessons learnt and put in place a robust action plan for the prevention of similar disruptions occurring and the management of future power disruptions. The E3C’s report and 10 recommendations were published on 03 January, alongside the finding from Ofgem’s investigation, and work continues at pace to implement the action plan in full. On completion of these actions, any significant changes to improve the resilience of the network will be agreed by Ofgem and factored into industry price controls to ensure they are allocated sufficient funding and resources.

Energy Supply

John McNally: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment of the effect of changes to the level of energy operator (a) transmission and (b) connector charges on the development of localised electricity grids.

Kwasi Kwarteng: Network charging is a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator. Ofgem is leading two major charging reforms: the Targeted Charging Review; and Access and Forward Looking Charges Significant Code Review (Access SCR). Collectively, this programme of work seeks to ensure that regulatory and market arrangements reflect and enable the energy system transition, as we move towards net zero emissions, and that consumers benefit from the changes. The Access SCR is most relevant to localised electricity grids. It seeks to ensure electricity networks are used efficiently and flexibly, reflecting users’ needs and allowing consumers to benefit from new technologies and services while avoiding unnecessary costs on energy bills. Ofgem published illustrative examples to help explain the potential benefits of its reforms to different users, including a wind generator and local energy scheme (available at: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/files/docs/2019/12/winter_2019_-_working_paper_-_illustrative_examples_note_publish.pdf). It will be publishing a full impact assessment, alongside its minded-to decision on its proposed changes under the Access SCR, later this year.

Economic Situation

John McNally: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to use the UK's potential economic recovery from the covid-19 outbreak to accelerate a transition to a carbon neutral economy.

Kwasi Kwarteng: In his speech of June 30, the Prime Minister made clear that in recovering from COVID-19, we must build back better, build back greener, build back faster, and to do that at the pace that this moment requires. Our economy must be greener, more sustainable, and more resilient. The UK has shown that growing our economy and cutting emissions can be achieved at the same time. We have grown our economy by 75% while cutting emissions by 43% over the past three decades. The UK has over 460,000 jobs in low carbon businesses and their supply chains and many of the actions we need to take to reach our target of net zero emissions by 2050 will support jobs and growth across the UK. The Government announced an ambitious support package for our low carbon economy at the Spring budget, including £800m fund for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and £1bn in support for ultra-low emission vehicles infrastructure. In his 30 June speech, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced further measures including up to £100m of new funding to research and develop Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology; a Green Recovery Challenge Fund of up to £40m to kick start a programme of nature-based projects to address the twin challenges of halting biodiversity loss and tackling climate change; and, recommitting to planting 30,000 hectares of trees every year by 2025. On July 8, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered an economic update setting out the next stage in our plan to support the UK’s recovery from the pandemic. The Government announced an additional £3 billion green investment to create thousands of green jobs and upgrade buildings. This includes £50m to demonstrate innovative approaches to retrofitting social housing at scale, to start the decarbonisation of social housing over 20/21; a £2 billion ‘Green Homes Grant’ to help people improve the efficiency of their homes accelerating progress towards net zero, while supporting jobs and reducing energy bills; and, £1 billion investment over the next year in a new Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to upgrade public sector buildings, including schools and hospitals, making them fit to help meet net zero with energy efficiency and low carbon heat measures. We will continue to build on this even further and deliver a stronger, greener, more sustainable economy after this pandemic. The Government will continue to set out further measures as part of its green agenda in the run up to COP26 in November 2021.

National Grid: Carbon Emissions

John McNally: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what proportion of the costs for the National Grid's transition to carbon neutrality will be covered via the bills of rate payers.

Kwasi Kwarteng: Energy network companies, which transport energy to homes and businesses, are regulated by the independent energy regulator, Ofgem, to ensure that they adequately maintain a safe and secure network whilst investing for the future and ensuring a fair price for consumers. In order to do this, Ofgem uses price controls to determine the revenues network companies may recover, the investment they may make and the performance standards they must deliver. Energy network companies are subject to price controls because they are regional monopolies and customers do not generally have a choice of provider. Energy suppliers are charged by network companies for the costs they incur in building, maintaining and operating the energy network, and suppliers pass on these costs to their customers. Ofgem will ensure – through its regulatory framework – that energy networks will be able to deliver our net zero target, while keeping costs down for consumers. Government will continue to engage with Ofgem on these issues.

Employment

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department's has made of the number of jobs displaced by automation during the covid-19 lockdown; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Scully: We are continuing to monitor the impact of Covid-19 on the labour market. Whilst it is too early to make any firm conclusions on the number of jobs impacted by automation during the Covid-19 lockdown, technology has been vital in supporting more people to stay in employment during this period through more flexible and remote working. The Government recognises that demand for skills will continue to change, in part in response to automation. In order to support people displaced in the labour market, the Government has announced that a total of £1.6 billion will be invested in scaling up employment support schemes, training and apprenticeships to help people looking for a job. This includes a £111 million investment to triple the scale of traineeships in 2020/21 and £17 million of funding for sector-based work academy placements.

Employment: Coronavirus

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many and what proportion of workers in each income quintile group have been (a) furloughed, (b) laid off or (c) had their (i) hours or (ii) pay reduced during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many and what proportion of workers on zero hours contracts have been (a) furloughed, (b) laid off or (c) had their (i) hours or (ii) pay reduced during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Scully: We are actively monitoring the impact of Covid-19 on different groups in the labour market. The latest external estimates, from the Resolution Foundation think tank found that, of those surveyed in the UK between 6-11 May: 33% of workers in the lowest quintile income group had either been furloughed (25%), lost their job (5%) or lost hours and pay (3%) due to coronavirus. This compares to 16% of those in the highest quintile income group, with 6% being furloughed, 3% losing their job and 7% losing hours and pay.40% of workers on zero hours contracts had either been furloughed (24%), lost their job (4%) or lost hours and pay (12%) due to coronavirus. This compares to 22% of all employees, with 15% being furloughed, 3% losing their job and 4% losing hours and pay. Published HM Treasury analysis on the impact of Covid-19 on working household incomes found that Government interventions since March have supported the poorest working households the most (as a proportion of February income). On 8 July, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a package of support to tackle the impact of Covid-19 crisis. This package provides £201m of new funding in 20-21 for skills provision and invests billions in a strong and coherent employment support offer. It provides the help people need now to swiftly find new work, while offering greater support for people who will find that journey harder.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on what date the reopening for tattoo parlours, nail and beauty salons, massage therapists, reflexologists and other close contact services will be confirmed.

Paul Scully: We have now provided close contact services in England, except Leicester, with the certainty they need to reopen from Monday 13 July, subject to them following the COVID-secure guidelines. We appreciate that this is difficult for some businesses. Our approach is guided by the scientific and medical advice, and every step is weighed against the evidence, remembering that the more we open up the more vigilant we will need to be.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what (a) criteria and (b) guidance he is following to determine (i) a date and (ii) the ancillary safety measures required for the reopening of tattoo parlours, nail and beauty salons, massage therapists, reflexologists and other close contact services.

Paul Scully: We have now provided close contact services in England, except Leicester, with the certainty they need to reopen from Monday 13 July, subject to them following the COVID-secure guidelines. Our approach is guided by the scientific and medical advice, making any changes depends on us continuing to meet the five tests, and the fifth test, which is being confident any adjustments to the current measures will not risk a second peak of infections that overwhelms the NHS, is informed by the Chief Scientific Adviser and Chief Medical Officer’s opinion. This guidance was developed with stakeholders like Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive, taking into account the latest scientific and medical advice, as our other guidance has. We appreciate that this is a difficult time for some businesses. Every step is weighed against the evidence, remembering that the more we open up the more vigilant we will need to be.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what advice the Government has received from SAGE on the date of reopening for tattoo parlours, nail and beauty salons, massage therapists, reflexologists and other close contact services.

Paul Scully: Our approach to the types of businesses that can reopen is guided by the scientific and medical advice. SAGE provides world-leading scientific advice to the Government. However, making any changes depends on us continuing to meet the five tests. We have now provided other close contact services like tattoo parlours, nail and beauty salons, massage therapists and reflexologists in England, except Leicester, with the certainty they need to reopen from Monday 13 July, subject to them following the COVID-secure guidelines.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what representations the Government has received from representatives of industry organisations on the date of reopening for tattoo parlours, nail and beauty salons, massage therapists, reflexologists and other close contact services.

Paul Scully: The Close Contact Services taskforce comprised stakeholders from a cross-section of the sector, including representative organisations. We consulted these stakeholders due to their expertise and real-life knowledge and experience of the challenges faced by the industry during the COVID-19 outbreak.This taskforce was responsible for developing guidance to help businesses in this sector prepare to reopen safely; it was not focused on when a return to work might be brought about.Representations have included:All Party Parliamentary Group for Beauty, Aesthetics and WellbeingAssociated Beauty TherapistsCoalition letter from 180 businesses in the beauty, aesthetics, spa and wellness industry; andThe National Hair and Beauty Federation.We have now provided other close contact services like tattoo parlours, nail and beauty salons, massage therapists and reflexologists in England, except Leicester, with the certainty they need to reopen from Monday 13 July, subject to them following the COVID-secure guidelines.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans the Government has to offer additional financial support to people working in tattoo parlours, nail and beauty salons, massage therapy, reflexology and other close contact services in the event that a date for reopening can not yet be confirmed.

Paul Scully: Close contact services in England, except Leicester, have been able to reopen from Monday 13 July, subject to them following the COVID-secure guidelines.The Government has introduced a comprehensive package of measures to support businesses through this difficult period, including Government-backed loan schemes providing facilities of between £2000 and £200 million, which will run for an initial period of six months.The schemes offer generous terms to help firms manage debts: under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) Government covers any interest and lender-levied fees for the first 12 months.Additionally, under BBLS no repayments are due for the first 12 months, and interest is capped at 2.5%. Businesses can also access support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, deferral of VAT and income tax payment, grant funding for small businesses, and more.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps may be taken against a lender which is found in a periodic audit not to be passing on the economic benefits of the CBILS Guarantee to borrowers in the form of lower borrowing costs.

Paul Scully: Under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), the Government provides lenders with an 80 per cent guarantee on each facility approved. Lenders are required to pass the economic benefit of the existence of this guarantee to the borrower through lower pricing than it may otherwise have had. As part of the accreditation process, lenders must evidence how they will pass the economic benefit on to borrowers.Lenders also undergo periodic audits (including an audit prior to moving from a probationary to a full Lender under the Scheme) to check that scheme eligibility rules and processes have been followed. If it is determined that a lender is not passing on the economic benefits of the CBILS Guarantee to borrowers, the lender will be required to take such action as is required by the British Business Bank to rectify this. This could include compensating the borrower and / or remediating their existing book. Ultimately, the Bank could suspend the lender from new lending or remove its accreditation. Any action will take into account the impact on the underlying SMEs.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his timetable is for the reopening of beauty salons.

Paul Scully: We have now provided other close contact services like beauty salons in England, except Leicester, with the certainty they need to reopen from Monday 13 July, subject to them following the COVID-secure guidelines.We need to be confident services are able to reopen in a COVID-secure way for the staff and customers. Our approach is guided by the scientific and medical advice, and our guidance has been developed with input from firms, unions, industry bodies and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, and in consultation with Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Carbon Emissions: Coronavirus

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if his Department will publish the data it holds on the level of carbon emissions during the covid-19 lockdown.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The UK’s greenhouse gas emissions data are compiled and published according to international requirements. We will be publishing provisional estimates of 2020 emissions in March 2021 based on provisional energy use data, and final estimates of 2020 emissions in February 2022. The greenhouse gas emission statistics we publish are available from the following webpage: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-statistics. The Department has however published data on energy use [link] during 2020 which shows for example that petrol and diesel sales in the seven weeks after 23 March 2020 were 39% the average levels of the prior eight weeks. The Committee on Climate Change’s 2020 Progress Report estimates that the UK’s daily CO₂ emissions were around 30% lower than mean 2019 levels during the peak of the lockdown in April and May 2020 [link].

Redundancy: Coronavirus

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits for (a) people who have worked in excess of 20 years and (b) workers more widely of revising the level of support offered under statutory redundancy in light of the covid-19 pandemic.

Paul Scully: The Government recognises this is a challenging time both for employers and employees and that is why we introduced the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Job Retention Bonus, to protect jobs and avoid redundancies. We hope that employers will use these schemes follow this lead and do everything they can to avoid making redundancies. Where redundancies are unavoidable it is important that employees receive the payments they are entitled to. Employees with the necessary qualifying period will have access, as a minimum, to Statutory Redundancy Pay based on their age and length of employment.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that businesses do not use funds received though the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for redundancy payments.

Paul Scully: Employees who are dismissed due to redundancy and who satisfy certain qualifying conditions are statutorily entitled to a lump sum from their employer, based on their age, length of service and contractual weekly earnings, subject to a statutory upper limit. As per the latest updates to the guidance for the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme, grants cannot be used to cover redundancy payments.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the number of businesses making staff redundancies while using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of restricting employers from making redundancies while Government support is available.

Paul Scully: The Department does not hold statistics on the number of business making staff redundant while using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. However, we are monitoring the broader picture on unemployment closely, with official data showing the number of payroll employees in April fell by 612,000 (2.1%) compared with March 2020. The legal position in relation to redundancy and dismissal remains the same whether or not an employee has been furloughed. Any redundancy process should be fair and reasonable with appropriate equalities considerations. Employees with the necessary qualifying service who believe that they have been unfairly selected for redundancy, or that the redundancy was unfair in some other way, may be able to complain to an employment tribunal.

Money: Security

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the (a) value of the cash in transit industry to the UK economy and (b) number of people employed in that industry.

Paul Scully: Secure collection and delivery of money, receipts and other valuable items is an activity undertaken by private security firms alongside many other activities rather than being a specific industry itself. These include security guard services, installation of security equipment, security consultancy and investigation activities. Therefore, we are unable to allocate value and employment to this particular activity. Private security and investigation activities as a whole contributed £3.3bn in Gross Vale Added to the UK economy in 2019 and accounted for nearly 230,000 jobs.

Money: Security

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to support the cash-in-transit industry.

Paul Scully: UK Businesses, including those within the cash in transit industry, may be eligible to access the business support packages launched by the Government during the coronavirus outbreak. This includes Business Interruption Loans, and potentially the discretionary grant fund administered by local authorities. Our network of 38 growth hubs also provide tailored support free of charge to firms based in England, covering sources of business finance, as well as training and networking opportunities. Firms in the devolved administrations will be able to access similar services. All business support and advice is listed on the GOV.UK website.

Small Businesses: Government Assistance

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of Government financial support for businesses who operate from a domestic premise during the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: Businesses operating from a domestic premises are eligible to benefit from a range of Government support during the pandemic, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme (CBILS), Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) and Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), Future Fund, Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).As of 12 July, £45 billion worth of loans have been approved under the three debt schemes (CBILS, CLBILS and BBLS). 429 convertible loans have been approved under the Future Fund, worth almost £419.6 million.Around 95 per cent of those with more than half their income from self-employment in 2018-19 could be eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). As of 12 July, SEISS had helped 2.7 million individuals, claiming £7.8 billion of government support.Those who pay themselves a salary through their own company via a PAYE scheme, including those based in domestic premises, are eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). As of 12 July, 9.4 million jobs had been furloughed under the CJRS.We engage frequently with businesses of all sizes including micro businesses and self-employed people and their representative organisations, to understand and identify the most effective support.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Humanitarian Aid

Anthony Mangnall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he plans to take to increase the involvement of British embassies in humanitarian work as part of the merger if the  Department for International Development with his Department.

James Duddridge: Merging the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID) will bring together the best of what we do in development and diplomacy. As the world becomes ever more complex, we need single cross-government strategies implemented on the ground by the Ambassador or High Commissioner heading all of HMG's work in-country. There is already very close co-ordination between the DFID's provision of life-saving humanitarian aid and the FCO's work to enable humanitarian responses politically and support humanitarian processes, and we expect this to continue and improve in the new structure.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Children and Young People

Ben Everitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department will consult with children and young people on the formation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

James Duddridge: The Government continues to engage with all relevant stakeholders on issues relating to the merger.

USA: Coronavirus

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made representations to the US Administration on the stockpiling of Remdesivir in the US for the treatment of patients with covid-19; and if he will make a statement.

Wendy Morton: The coronavirus outbreak is the biggest public health emergency in a generation, and needs a strong and coordinated global health response. The UK Government is working closely with our international partners, including the United States, to deliver a robust global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Ministers and diplomatic network continue to galvanise international support and financial commitments to support research, development and equitable access to vaccines, treatments and tests, including through the G7, G20 and other international fora.

China: India

Sir Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with other his counterparts in the international community on the recent violence in the Galwan Valley.

Nigel Adams: On 24 June the Prime Minister expressed his concern at increased tensions between China and India. We welcome recent progress between India and China to manage tensions along their disputed border and the commitment on 5 July by Indian and Chinese Special Representatives on 'the Boundary Question' to disengage troops along the Line of Actual Control and de-escalate the border areas. We encourage both sides to maintain dialogue and continue to monitor the situation closely.

China: India

Sir Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart on steps to de-escalate tensions with the People’s Republic of China along the Line of Actual Control; what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of progress of the disengagement agreement between the governments of India and China; and steps he is taking to monitor the political situation in that region.

Nigel Adams: On 24 June The Prime Minister expressed his concern at increased tensions between China and India. We welcome recent progress between India and China to manage tensions along their disputed border and the commitment on 5 July by Indian and Chinese Special Representatives on 'the Boundary Question' to disengage troops along the Line of Actual Control and de-escalate the border areas. We encourage both sides to maintain dialogue and continue to monitor the situation closely.

Syria: Armed Conflict

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Turkish government on (a) the conflict in Northern Syria and (b) that country's policy towards YPG forces.

Wendy Morton: Ministers and officials regularly discuss the situation in northern Syria with the Government of Turkey. The Foreign Secretary discussed international efforts on Syria with Turkish Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu during in his visit to London on 8 July.We also regularly discuss our differences of views on the YPG, which is an important part of the Syrian Democratic Forces. We acknowledge Turkey's security concerns regarding the PKK. The UK sees a clear distinction between the PKK, which we proscribed as a terrorist organisation in 2001, and the SDF, the partner force of the Global Coalition against Daesh in Syria. We pay tribute to the courage and sacrifices made by SDF in the fight against Daesh. We continue to urge the Kurdish elements of the SDF to distance themselves from the PKK and its terrorist activity. The UK also calls on all parties to the conflict in Syria to respect international law.

Bahrain: Capital Punishment

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when his most recent discussions took place with his counterpart in the Bahraini Government on the death sentences of (a) Mohammed Ramadhan and (b) Hussain Moosa.

James Cleverly: Holding answer received on 14 July 2020



We are deeply concerned by the death sentences handed to Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa. We have raised both cases at senior levels with the Government of Bahrain. The Bahraini Government is fully aware that the UK opposes the death penalty, in all circumstances, as a matter of principle. We continue to monitor their case, as it is taken to the Court of Cassation for final review.

Diego Garcia: Military Bases

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the financial arrangement is between the UK and the US in relation to the air base in Diego Garcia.

Wendy Morton: We receive no financial payment from the US in relation to the UK/US military facility on Diego Garcia.

South China Sea

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the (a) frequency and (b) cost was of freedom of navigation exercises through the South China sea in (i) 2018 and (ii) 2019.

Nigel Adams: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Embassies: St Andrew's Day

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what events took place in UK (a) embassies and (b) other diplomatic missions to mark St Andrews Day in 2019.

Nigel Adams: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Embassies: Burns Night

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what events took place in (a) embassies and (b) other diplomatic missions to mark Burns Night in (i) 2019 and (ii) 2020.

Nigel Adams: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Embassies: Scotland

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what events were hosted in UK (a) embassies and (b) other diplomatic missions to promote Scottish (i) business and (ii) culture in the last 12 months.

Nigel Adams: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department of Health and Social Care

Social Services: Coronavirus

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report entitled, ADASS Budget Survey 2020, what assessment has he made of the implications for his policy of the conclusion that the  adult social care providers and councils may face up to £6.6 billion in extra costs by the end of September 2020 as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: We recognise that COVID-19 is imposing significant pressures on the social care sector. We have now made £3.7 billion available to local authorities so they can address pressures on local services caused by the pandemic, including in adult social care.On 15 May we published details of an additional £600 million Infection Control Fund for Adult Social Care. This funding is to support adult social care providers in England reduce the rate of transmission in and between care homes and to support workforce resilience.The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is running a monitoring exercise to gather ongoing financial management information on pressures councils are experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including on adult social care. Rounds 1 and 2 of the survey collected data in April and May and results have been published at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority-covid-19-financial-impact-monitoring-information

Social Services: Finance

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to put in place a comprehensive new spending package for the social care sector; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 30 June 2020



We have provided councils with access to an additional £1.5 billion for adults and children’s social care in 2020/21 on top of maintaining £2.5 billion of existing social care grants. This will support local authorities to meet rising demand and continue to stabilise the social care system.This includes an additional £1 billion of grant funding for adults and children’s social care, and a 2% precept that enables councils to access a further £500 million for adult social care.The additional funding for social care was part of a Local Government Finance Settlement that increased Core Spending Power by 4.4% in real terms, the largest year on year real terms increase in a decade.

Heart Diseases: Surgery

Paul Bristow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many percutaneous coronary interventions have taken place in the NHS in  month since April 2019.

Edward Argar: The data requested is provided in the following table. It should be noted that the data is provisional and subject to review.YearMonthEpisodes2019April6,319May6,876June6,361July6,983August6,515September6,325October6,969November6,695December6,3552020January6,670February6,169March5,762April3,480 Figures provided do not represent the number of different patients as a person may have more than one episode of care.

Cataracts: Medical Treatments

Paul Bristow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many cataract procedures have taken place in the NHS in each month since April 2019.

Edward Argar: The data requested is provided in the following table. It should be noted that the data is provisional and subject to review.YearMonthEpisodes2019April36,390May38,750June38,741July42,554August37,188September40,457October43,774November43,313December34,9482020January42,738February39,528March26,658April148 Figures provided do not represent the number of different patients as a person may have more than one episode of care.

Joint Replacements

Paul Bristow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many hip and knee orthopaedic procedures have taken place in the NHS in each month since April 2019.

Edward Argar: The data requested is provided in the following table. It should be noted that the data is provisional and subject to review.YearMonthEpisodes2019April39,287May41,792June40,369July42,183August37,768September40,248October43,375November41,465December37,6402020January39,944February38,845March31,105April7,275 Figures provided do not represent the number of different patients as a person may have more than one episode of care.

Hernias: Surgery

Paul Bristow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many hernia repair procedures have taken place in the NHS in each month since April 2019.

Edward Argar: A count of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) with any mention of a 'hernia repair procedure' by month between April 2019 to April 2020 is attached. Data provided for 2019-20 are provisional and are a count of FCEs, not the number of patients. 



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(Excel SpreadSheet, 24.31 KB)

Heart Diseases: Surgery

Paul Bristow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many heart valve replacement procedures have taken place in the NHS each month since April 2019.

Edward Argar: A count of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) where a heart valve replacement procedure has taken place and has an episode end date between April 2019 to April 2020 is attached. Data for 2019-20 are provisional and are a count of FCEs, not the number of patients. 



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(Excel SpreadSheet, 27.51 KB)

Aortic Aneurysm: Surgery

Paul Bristow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many abdominal aortic aneurysm endovascular repair procedures have taken place in the NHS each month since April 2019.

Edward Argar: Information is not held in the format requested.

NHS Trusts: Finance

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to Answer of 17 June to Question 54127 on NHS Trusts: Finance, what estimate he has made of the amount owed by trusts in dividend charges in the financial year 2019/20.

Edward Argar: The dividend charge for National Health Service trusts and foundation trusts in 2019-20 will be published as part of the next Departmental Annual Report and Accounts. This will be shortly after parliamentary summer recess.

Social Services: Badges

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the supply of CARE badges to social care staff.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Parking

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his timescale is for the end of free car parking at hospitals for NHS staff during the covid-19 outbreak.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Parking

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance he has issued to NHS trusts on when to resume charging NHS staff for car parking as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Health and Social Care: Photographs

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost to the public purse has been of private photographers for his Department in each of the last 12 months.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for International Development

Tropical Diseases

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to help people with leprosy and other tropical diseases.

Wendy Morton: The UK’s global health work supports countries to build and maintain strong health systems and promote universal health coverage, to enable partner countries to tackle all the causes of ill health, including tropical diseases.UK aid is invested in several major neglected tropical disease (NTD) programmes, which are focused on building systems to treat and prevent Guinea worm, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, visceral leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis, and trachoma. These diseases were identified based on a detailed analysis of the burden of the disease, the UK’s comparative advantage in the area, and the availability and cost effectiveness of treatment and prevention. Although leprosy is not a focus disease, activities relating to leprosy can be included if these can be delivered effectively in conjunction with activities relating to the focus diseases. We work closely with national governments to plan programme activities.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Simon Baynes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, in what form humanitarian aid from the UK has been provided to civilians in Yemen in the last 12 months.

James Cleverly: The UK provided £240 million in aid to Yemen in the financial year (19/20) through UN and NGO humanitarian and development partners, delivering a range of interventions. This included providing on average 500,000 Yemenis each month with cash transfers and vouchers through the World Food Programme.DFID funding to UNICEF screened over 400,000 children for severe acute malnutrition and enrolled 45,000 children in nutrition programmes following screening. Through DFID funded NGOs, including CARE and ACTED, we treated a further 8,000 children and pregnant women for acute malnutrition,UK aid helped provide over 1 million people with access to clean drinking water and sanitation and over 1.5 million with an emergency water supply. The UK also contributed 25% of the costs of Oral Cholera Vaccination campaigns in 2019, which have helped to vaccinate more than 2 million Yemenis since they began in 2018.

Overseas Aid: Poverty

Allan Dorans: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will take steps to continue tackling poverty by ensuring that aid reaches (a) people who are most vulnerable because of their faith and (b) other people who are most vulnerable.

James Cleverly: The UK Government works to ensure that all aid reaches the most vulnerable, including those people who are most vulnerable because of their faith.The UK is committed to delivering its humanitarian aid according to internationally recognised humanitarian principles. These principles ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered to those who are most vulnerable and most in need of this assistance. This includes vulnerable religious minorities.DFID’s use of country context analysis has increased the extent to which religious dynamics and religious groups are factored into all of our country programmes. DFID undertakes interdisciplinary analysis of a country’s politics, society, state and economy to identify the most significant problems that hinder development and the main entry points and opportunities to create change. There is a strong emphasis on how politics, security, and demographics interact with economic growth and human development. This includes the role of religion and the persecution of religious minorities.Vulnerable groups such as disabled people and religious minorities, will experience crises such as COVID-19 differently. Crises are likely to reinforce their marginalised position in society, their experience of discrimination, violence and stigma, and further limit their access to essential support and services. For this reason, guidance was circulated across DFID highlighting that inclusion must be central to our response and the specific contexts and needs of vulnerable religious communities and other vulnerable groups should be taken into account when developing practical programmes of assistance.On 8 June, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State responsible for Human Rights, hosted a roundtable to hear from faith leaders and faith-based development organisations about the specific challenges minority faith communities are facing during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Overseas Aid: Diseases

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Government is taking steps to allocate funding under the Global Fund's covid-19 Response Mechanism to ensure the effectiveness of ongoing programmes to tackle (a) TB, (b) HIV and (c) malaria.

Wendy Morton: The UK is a proud supporter of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. We are the second largest donor to the Sixth Replenishment, pledging up to £1.4 billion for 2020 - 2022 to fight HIV, TB, and malaria and support health systems, contributing to achievement of universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goal 3 of “Good Health for All”. We support the Global Fund’s swift action to allow countries to re-programme or use savings from their current grants, and their rapid creation of the COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM), which together have created up to £1 billion of flexibility for countries to respond to COVID-19 and its impacts on HIV, TB, malaria, and health systems.This Government has already pledged up to £764 million of UK aid on responding to COVID-19 and we are taking our leadership role in global health very seriously. We are using UK aid to its full effect to counter the health, humanitarian, and economic risks and impact of this pandemic in the developing world. We will continue to consider all options for our future support.

Overseas Aid: Religion

Allan Dorans: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has in place to ensure that (a) Christians and (b) other religious minorities are not discriminated against because of their faith when UK aid is being distributed.

Nigel Adams: The UK Government works to ensure that Christian and other religious minorities are not discriminated against during the distribution of UK aid.The UK is committed to delivering its aid according to internationally recognised humanitarian principles. These principles ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered to those who are most vulnerable and most in need of this assistance. This includes vulnerable religious minorities.Vulnerable religious minority groups will experience crises such as COVID-19 outbreaks differently. Crises are likely to reinforce their marginalised position in society, their experience of discrimination, violence and stigma, and further limit their access to essential support and services. For this reason, guidance was circulated across DFID highlighting that inclusion must be central to our response and the specific contexts and needs of vulnerable religious communities and other vulnerable groups should be taken into account when developing practical programmes of assistance.The situation of minority communities is taken into account when assessing those most in need of protection and assistance. This includes when a community is being targeted or is otherwise vulnerable because of their faith. We actively consult civil society including faith-based organisations to understand how best to support vulnerable groups. DFID’s due diligence assessments ensure that all organisations have the correct procedures in place to tackle any discrimination including religious minorities. We regularly challenge our partners to demonstrate that they are doing all they can to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people, including those from religious minorities.On 8 June, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State responsible for Human Rights, hosted a roundtable to hear from faith leaders and faith-based development organisations about the specific challenges minority faith communities are facing during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Sustainable Development

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office plans to make the Sustainable Development Goals a priority for that Office.

Wendy Morton: The UK remains committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – and to the underpinning pledge to Leave No One Behind as we strive to achieve them. As the Prime Minister said in his statement to the UN Financing for Development High-Level Event on 28 May, following COVID-19 there is every need for us to work together to advance shared international objectives - including the SDGs.

Overseas Aid: Religion

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she has taken to ensure that (a) Christians and (b) other religious minorities undertaking the distribution of aid in developing countries do not face discrimination as a result of their faith.

Nigel Adams: The UK Government works to ensure that those responsible for the distribution of aid in developing countries, including Christian and other religious minorities, do not face discrimination as a result of their faith. DFID works closely with the FCO to call for rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid workers to those in need and vice versa. We also strongly advocate for compliance with International Humanitarian Law and with the Humanitarian Principles, both of which serve to protect aid workers and those they seek to assist.International Humanitarian Law states that parties to a conflict must allow humanitarian relief for civilians in need, which is impartial in character and conducted without any adverse distinction. They must not withhold consent to relief operations arbitrarily. Parties to a conflict must not discriminate against aid agencies and/or their personnel delivering aid of this nature because of their faith. DFID conducts thorough due diligence assessments of its partners to ensure that they have the ability to work in fragile and conflict afflicted states and to implement appropriate safety and security protocols.On 8 June, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State responsible for Human Rights, hosted a roundtable to hear from faith leaders and faith-based development organisations about the specific challenges minority faith communities are facing during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Department for International Development: Data Protection

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many data breaches her Department has reported to the Information Commissioner in each of the last five years.

Wendy Morton: DFID has not reported any data breaches to the Information Commission in each of the last five years.

Yemen: Overseas Aid

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made on the effect of the proposed reductions in Official Development Assistance on the UK’s contribution to multilateral agencies operating in Yemen, including the (a) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, (b) UN International Children’s Fund and (c) World Food Programme.

James Cleverly: Yemen remains a key priority for the UK Government. The UK’s £160 million pledge made at the 2020 Yemen Humanitarian Pledging Conference on June 2nd was the third largest by any country and brings our total commitment to Yemen to nearly £1 billion since the conflict started in 2015. The UK remains committed to honouring this pledge and supporting various multilateral agencies operating in Yemen.Our funding will help UN agencies provide support to at least 300,000 vulnerable people each month to help them buy food and household essentials, treat 40,000 children for malnutrition and provide 1 million people with improved water supply and basic sanitation.

Democratic Republic of Congo and Syria: Overseas Aid

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made on the effect of the proposed reductions in Official Development Assistance on the UK’S contribution to multilateral funding bodies in (a) Syria and (b) the Democratic Republic of Congo.

James Cleverly: The UK is committed to spending 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) on Official Development Assistance, which is enshrined in law. This means the aid budget increases when the UK economy grows and decreases if the economy shrinks.Given the expected fall in GNI this year, aid spending is under review across all departments. No decision has been taken and we are considering the full range of our work.

Syria: International Assistance

Mrs Sheryll Murray: What steps her Department has taken through the fourth Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region held in June 2020 to provide support to people suffering as a result of the conflict in that country.

James Cleverly: At the Brussels conference, the International Development Secretary committed at least £300 million in aid for 2020, bringing total UK spend to over £3 billion for Syria and the Region. This is funding life-saving aid, supporting refugees and their host communities, and helping vulnerable Syrians to be self-reliant through education and training.

Developing Countries: Nutrition

David Mundell: With reference to the 2020 Global Nutrition Report, what plans she has to increase support for nutrition programmes throughout the world.

Wendy Morton: The Secretary of State was incredibly pleased to be invited to write a foreword to the Global Nutrition Report this year. As highlighted in the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report launched yesterday, progress to end hunger and malnutrition by 2030 remains off-track and is set to stall further in the face of COVID-19. The UK remains committed to preventing and treating malnutrition as part of our commitment to end the preventable deaths of mothers, newborns and children and DFID has contributed £15 million of UK aid to the World Food Programme’s global COVID-19 response. In addition, I’m pleased to say that the RAF has now flown four UK aid-funded flights in support of WFP’s COVID-19 response plan.

Kurds: Coronavirus

Jack Lopresti: What steps her Department is taking to promote measures to limit the spread of covid-19 in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

James Cleverly: During a recent ‘virtual visit’, the Secretary of State was inspired to meet young Iraqi entrepreneurs who are helping develop the Iraqi economy. The UK stands with Iraq as it responds to the coronavirus outbreak. We are working closely with UN and international partners to help Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, manage the pandemic whilst continuing to meet the needs of the most vulnerable, including displaced people living in camps.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Seema Malhotra: Whether she had discussions with (a) civil society and (b) development partners on the potential merger of her Department with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before the decision to merge those Departments was made.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: As with any government change like this, the announcement came first to Parliament. Baroness Sugg meets British Development Civil Society Organisations regularly. Strong consultation with a wide range of partners will continue to be a key component of our work to create the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Dave Doogan: What discussions she has had with (a) her international counterparts and (b) international development non-governmental organisations on the planned merger of her Department with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: As with any government change like this, the announcement came first to Parliament. Baroness Sugg meets British Development Civil Society Organisations regularly. Strong consultation with a wide range of partners will continue to be a key component of our work to create the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Robbie Moore: What steps her Department has taken through the Yemen 2020: High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen held in June 2020 to provide support to people suffering as a result of the conflict in that country.

James Cleverly: The UK committed to provide £160m at the 2020 Yemen Humanitarian Pledging Conference, bringing our contribution to almost £1bn since 2015. By the end of July, we will have disbursed over 50% of our funding, helping the UN and NGOs tackle the spread of COVID-19 and meet urgent humanitarian needs. Ultimately, only a political settlement will address the humanitarian crisis. We urge all parties to engage constructively with Special Envoy Martin Griffiths.

Department for Education

Covid-19 Education Catch-up Fund

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the £1 billion support package to tackle the impact of lost teaching time announced on 19 June 2020 will include funding for 16-19 providers.

Gillian Keegan: My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister announced a £1 billion support package for schools to help pupils catch up on lost teaching time.Many FE providers are already open for 16-19 learners on the first year of a two-year study programme and all learners under 19 years old can be offered a face-to-face meeting before the end of the summer term - subject to the required safety measures being met. Our guidance on how to phase the return of learners in further education is underpinned by our latest understanding of COVID-19 and we will continue to be led by the scientific evidence.From Autumn 2020, all learners, including those who are 16-19 and adults will return to a full high-quality education programme delivered by their college or post 16 learning provider.Colleges should plan on the basis that, from September 2020, all learners will return to a full high-quality education programme.We are currently working through the implications of the Covid-19 disruption and are reviewing options on how students can be supported to make up for the disruption to their learning.

Music: Coronavirus

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance the Government plans to provide for (a) singing and (b) wind instrument teachers to enable them to safely return to work as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Nick Gibb: The Department has published detailed guidance for schools to prepare for all children and young people to return to full-time education from September 2020. The guidance published on 2 July outlines that there may be an additional risk of infection in environments where you or others are singing, chanting, playing wind or brass instruments or shouting, and provides further information on steps that schools should take to keep staff and pupils safe. The guidance can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/schools-and-colleges-to-reopen-in-full-in-september.

Schools: Food

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the COVID Summer Food Fund, whether the alternative support of up to £90 per pupil can be used to (a) make cash payments to families, (b) pay for the production and distribution of meals and (c) provide free school meal support in other ways.

Vicky Ford: Provision for free school meals is ordinarily term-time only. However, owing to the COVID-19 outbreak, the government fully understands that children and parents face an entirely unprecedented situation over the summer. To reflect this, we will be providing additional funding for a Covid Summer Food Fund which will enable families with children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals to receive food vouchers covering the 6-week holiday period. Our guidance on the Covid Summer Food Fund is available here:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-summer-food-fund.Schools can order vouchers for the Covid Summer Food Fund through the same Edenred portal that was created for our national free school meals voucher scheme during term time. The department will meet the cost of vouchers ordered through this portal, and a wide range of supermarkets are participating: Aldi, Asda, Company Shop Group, Iceland (including The Food Warehouse Stores), Marks & Spencer, McColl’s, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose. Since the scheme’s launch in March, the department and Edenred have continually upgraded this system, and over 18,500 schools had placed orders through this site as of 30 June. Thousands of families are receiving free school meals vouchers through this system. Overall, over £238 million worth of voucher codes has been redeemed into supermarket e-gift cards by schools and families through the scheme, as of 10 July.Many parents will be able to access one or more of the supermarkets on our national scheme. However, if a school considers that its families cannot access any of these supermarkets, they can make alternative voucher arrangements with a local supermarket or they can arrange food parcels for collection or delivery to eligible children. Schools can claim for the costs through the department’s exceptional fund. Where schools are ordering alternative vouchers for the summer holidays, these orders must be placed one week before the school summer term ends. If schools arrange food parcels in the summer holidays, these can only be ordered for children in receipt of free school meals before the summer holidays begin. The guidance on the exceptional costs fund is available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-schools/school-funding-exceptional-costs-associated-with-coronavirus-covid-19-for-the-period-march-to-july-2020.

Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School Barnet: Coronavirus

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the guidance issued by his Department entitled, Get technology support for children and schools during coronavirus (Covid-19), published on 19 April 2020, what the timeframe is for Queen Elizabeth's Girls School, Barnet, to be invited to apply to that programme in accordance with the undertaking contained in that guidance that schools would be sent information on how to do this.

Nick Gibb: The Government has committed over £100 million to support vulnerable and disadvantaged children in England to access remote education and online social care services, including by providing laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers.We are providing laptops and tablets to vulnerable and disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examinations in Year 10, receiving support from a social worker or are a care leaver. Where care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school and children in Year 10 do not have internet connections, we are providing 4G wireless routers for internet access.On 24 April, local authorities (LAs) and academy trusts were invited to forecast the number of devices they needed to support children and young people that they are responsible for in the eligible categories. LAs are responsible for ordering devices for children with a social worker and care leavers, as well as disadvantaged Year 10 pupils in LA-maintained schools. Academy trusts are only responsible for disadvantaged Year 10 pupils in their schools.After LAs and academy trusts completed their forecast, the Department for Education confirmed the number of devices and routers that they would receive. LAs and academy trusts were offered the option to request additional devices for eligible children where needed.The Department invited LAs and academy trusts to order devices throughout May and June. All LAs and academy trusts can now order the devices they have forecast.As of 30 June, over 200,000 laptops and tablets and over 47,000 4G wireless routers had been delivered or dispatched to local authorities and academy trusts. This information can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/laptops-tablets-and-4g-wireless-routers-progress-data.This includes 20 devices for Queen Elizabeth’s Girls School, Barnet.

Schools: Coronavirus

Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is his policy that (a) all schools return to normal teaching and (b) wraparound care providers resume normal operations in September 2020.

Nick Gibb: The Government has been clear that our intention is for all children to return to school from September. We want to get all children and young people back into education because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know how important it is for their wellbeing to have social interactions with their teachers and friends.On 2 July we published guidance to help schools plan for a full return of all pupils in September. In our guidance we advise schools to teach an ambitious and broad curriculum in all subjects from the start of the autumn term but make use of existing flexibilities to create time to cover the most important missed content.Schools should consider resuming any breakfast and after-school provision, where possible, from the start of the autumn term. We recognise that schools may need to respond flexibly and build this up over time. Such provision will help ensure pupils have opportunities to re-engage with their peers and with the setting, ensure vulnerable children have a healthy breakfast and are ready to focus on their lessons, to provide enrichment activities, and also support working parents. Schools should carefully consider how they can make such provision work alongside their wider protective measures, including keeping children within their year groups or bubbles where possible. If it is not possible to maintain bubbles being used during the school day then schools should use small, consistent groups.As part of Step 3 of the Government’s recovery strategy, wraparound care providers operating away from a school or nursery have been able to open from 4 July. We have published guidance for after school clubs and wraparound care providers, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.

Schools: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of available (a) space and (b) teachers on the capacity of schools to receive all children in September 2020 as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Nick Gibb: The Government has been clear that our intention is for all children to return to school from September. We want to get all children and young people back into education because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know how important it is for their wellbeing to have social interactions with their teachers and friends.On 2 July we published guidance to help schools plan for a full return of all pupils in September. This includes information on staffing and the necessary protective measures to keep children and teachers as safe as possible. We do not consider it necessary for schools to make significant adaptations to their site to enable them to welcome all children back to school. We also do not think schools will need to deliver any of their education on other sites (such as community centres / village halls) because class sizes can return to normal and spaces used by more than one class or group can be cleaned between use.This guidance can be viewed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.

Further Education: Free School Meals

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what financial support his Department will provide to colleges providing free school meals to students over the summer holidays in 2020.

Vicky Ford: Due to the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, we are providing extra funding to enable further education institutions to continue to provide free school meals for the 2020 summer holidays. The funding is for students who were eligible and claiming for free meals in further education institutions in the 2019-20 academic year.Further information is available at:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/16-to-19-funding-free-meals-in-further-education-funded-institutions-for-2019-to-2020#coronavirus-covid-19-specific-update.

Assessments: Coronavirus

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what financial support he plans to allocate to (a) exam invigilators and (b) moderators appointed by examination boards who have been unable to work during the covid-19 outbreak; and what discussions he has had with representatives from the Welsh Government on that support.

Nick Gibb: Invigilators are mostly employed directly by school and other exam centres, while moderators are employed by exam boards.The Department’s guidance states that where schools or local authorities had expected to use their public funding to engage workers, and had budgeted for this, but work is no longer needed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we encourage them to follow the approach for casual workers set out in paragraph 20 of the Procurement Policy Note 02/20 and 4/20 on contingent workers. This will ensure that directly hired casual workers have access to the same levels of support as casual agency workers on live assignment during the COVID-19 outbreak. The guidance sets out that in certain circumstances, public bodies can make payments of up to 80% of previously agreed rates to contingent workers. Whilst we encourage schools to follow this guidance, including for invigilators where appropriate, it is advisory and does not mandate or prescribe what schools should do in individual circumstances.The exam boards that employ moderators are independent organisations. As such, they are responsible for deciding on payment arrangements and discussing with HMRC as appropriate. The situation is complex given the status of different examiners, but we know that the boards are providing information and updates to those involved.Given that invigilators and moderators are employed by either exam centers or exam boards and covered by general Government guidance as set out above, we have not discussed this specific issue with the Welsh Government.

Covid-19 Education Catch-up Fund

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to make available funding from the £1 billion catch-up fund for tutoring school pupils; and what the criteria is for the allocation of those funds.

Nick Gibb: The £350 million National Tutoring Programme will increase the availability of high-quality tutoring across England, enabling schools to access provision for disadvantaged pupils at a subsidised rate. It will also place high-calibre graduate coaches in the most disadvantaged schools across the country to support pupils to catch up in key subjects. We will say more about the programme in due course.The wider £650 million catch-up fund recognises that all pupils, irrespective of their background or location, have lost time in education. Whilst school leaders will decide how it is used, the intention is that this money will be spent on the most effective interventions. On 19 June the Education Endowment Foundation published a guide to help school leaders and staff decide how to use this universal funding to best support their pupils. https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/public/files/Publications/Covid-19_Resources/Covid-19_support_guide_for_schools.pdfWe will announce more details, including allocations, in due course.

Apprentices: Construction

Mick Whitley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to help increase the number of apprentice places available in the construction industry.

Mick Whitley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that there is greater (a) gender and (b) BAME diversity among construction apprentices.

Gillian Keegan: Apprenticeships will have an important role to play in creating employment opportunities, particularly for young people, and in supporting employers in all sectors to access the skilled workforce that they need to recover and grow following the COVID-19 outbreak. We will ensure that there is sufficient funding to support all businesses wanting to take on an apprentice this year and will provide further details in due course. Apprenticeships are jobs with training and form an employer-led programme where employers choose which apprenticeships they offer to meet their current and future skills need. There are currently 86 high quality construction standards at different levels, designed by industry to equip individuals with the skills that employers want. A further 12 standards are in development and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education is working to approve these as soon as possible. The construction industry will be key in supporting the country’s economic recovery and the Prime Minister recently announced a £5 billion Capital Investment Plan to accelerate infrastructure projects aimed at stimulating the sector and help to recruit and retain staff including apprentices. We are working with the sector to encourage take up of new apprentices and continue to work with employers including Persimmons Homes and Balfour Beatty through our Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network (ADCN) to promote best practice in recruiting and supporting apprentices from diverse backgrounds and under-represented groups including Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) and women. We recognise that employers, at the moment, face increased challenges with hiring new apprentices and so we will introduce a new payment of £2,000 to employers in England for each new apprentice they hire aged under 25, and a £1,500 payment for each new apprentice they hire aged 25 and over, from 1 August 2020 to 31 January 2021. Details can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-treasury.

Education: Children in Care

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has he made of the trends in the level educational attainment of children in care at (a) GCSE, (b) A level or equivalent and (c) undergraduate degree level.

Vicky Ford: Children in care generally have lower educational attainment than other pupils.63% of looked-after children enter care due to abuse or neglect. They often have a disrupted experience of education and this pre-care experience can have a significant impact on their attainment. Looked-after children are almost four times more likely to have a special educational need (SEN) than all children and this in part can also explain the gap in attainment compared to non-looked after children.We expect looked-after children to be placed in good or outstanding schools. Schools must appoint a designated teacher for looked-after children and local authorities must have a Virtual School Head who is accountable for the educational attainment of all children looked-after by the local authority. We have introduced the pupil premium plus for looked-after children (£2,345 per eligible pupil and is managed by the Virtual School Head) to deliver the outcomes in each looked-after child’s personal education plan. The department’s exclusions statutory guidance is clear that the headteacher should, as far as possible, avoid permanently excluding a looked after child. The rate of permanent exclusion for looked after children was 0.14% in 2014–15. That has reduced in recent years; in 2017-2018, the rate was 0.05%. The local authority must have regard to the relevant statutory guidance when carrying out its duties in relation to the education of looked after children.Information on the performance of children who had been looked after continuously for at least 12 months at Key Stage 4 is published in a statistical release. Due to the introduction of reformed GCSEs and the 9-1 grading scale, comparisons over a long timeframe are difficult. Table 5a shows that the percentage of children who had been looked after continuously for at least 12 months achieving the threshold in English and mathematics at grade 5 or above decreased slightly from 7.4% in 2017 to 7.2% in 2019. The publication is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/outcomes-for-children-looked-after-by-local-authorities-31-march-2019.Equivalent figures are not available for A levels as we do not match data collected for looked-after children with Key Stage 5 attainment data on the national pupil database.Information on the degree qualifications of children who have been looked after is not held centrally within the department.The Office for Students published a report that looked at the effects of different characteristics on students’ degree attainment. Annex B describes how care-experienced students have lower rates of achieving a first or upper-second class degree when compared to students who have not been in care. For qualifiers in 2018-19, the attainment rate of care experienced students was 12.1% lower than the attainment rate of students who have not been in care. The report is available here:https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/differences-in-student-outcomes-further-characteristics/.Since 2018, we have been working with universities to encourage them to sign up to the Care Leaver Covenant and publish their offer to care leavers. The website is available here: https://mycovenant.org.uk/offers/educational/.We continue to work with the sector to better understand the needs of care leavers and increase their attendance and attainment.

Children in Care

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many looked-after children in England there have been place in (a) foster care, (b) residential children’s homes and (c) other residential settings in each year since 2010.

Vicky Ford: The number of looked after children placed in foster care, residential homes and other residential settings since 2010 are shown in the attached table.The latest figures nationally on children looked-after by placement are published in Table A2 of the statistical release ‘Children looked after in England including adoption: 2018 to 2019’, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2018-to-2019.



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Pupils: West Yorkshire

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils have been attending a (a) primary and (b) secondary school in (i) Hemsworth parliamentary constituency (ii) the Wakefield Council area on a daily basis since 1 June 2020.

Nick Gibb: The Department does not hold the information in the format required. National data on pupil attendance in educational establishments since 23 March was last published on Tuesday 7 July at the following link, covering data up to Thursday 2 July: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/attendance-in-education-and-early-years-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak-23-march-to-1-july-2020. The publication includes breakdowns of attendance statistics for both primary and secondary schools and colleges from 1 June. The data is collected from individual education establishments and the published figures include estimates for non-response.

Schools and Nurseries: Coronavirus

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is the Government's policy that state-funded schools and nurseries should plan to pay for the additional (a) cleaning required by covid-19 risk assessments and (b) classroom based staff required in schools to allow school leaders to be flexible in how clinically vulnerable members of staff are deployed from (i) existing budgets and (ii) new Government money; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Government has been clear that our plan is for all pupils, in all year groups, to return to school full-time from the beginning of the autumn term and on 2 July we published guidance to help schools prepare for this. The measures set out in this guidance provide a framework for school leaders to put in place proportionate protective measures for children and staff, including information on cleaning and workforce.Individuals who were clinically extremely vulnerable and received a letter advising them to shield are now advised that they can return to work from 1 August as long as they maintain social distancing.Schools and local authorities have continued to receive their core funding allocations throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. Following last year’s Spending Round, school budgets are rising by £2.6 billion in 2020-21, £4.8 billion in 2021-22 and £7.1 billion in 2022-23, compared to 2019-20. We are planning to spend over £3.6 billion on early years education entitlements in 2020-21.As stated in our guidance, schools should use their existing resources when planning to welcome all children back for the autumn. Early years settings should do the same. The guidance can be viewed at the links bellow:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures#funding.

Further Education: Coronavirus

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of covid-19 outbreak on agricultural colleges.

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department has taken to provide bespoke support to agricultural colleges during the covid-19 outbreak.

Gillian Keegan: We are aware of the financial impact COVID-19 has had on post-16 providers, including Agricultural Colleges. We will continue to pay grant funded providers, including Agricultural Colleges, their scheduled monthly profiled payments for the remainder of the 2019/20 funding year and funding allocations for 2020/21 have been confirmed. Payments will be made in line with the national profile. The funding system also provides a programme cost weighting uplift for agriculture courses delivered in eligible land-based settings, reflecting their higher costs. For colleges in significant financial difficulties the exiting support arrangements remain in place, including short-term solvency support via emergency funding The further education commissioner and his highly experienced team are able to talk through plans, concerns and issues. The department’s pool of National Leaders of Governance (NLGs) are also able to offer support. Local Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) teams are also providing support and enquiries can be submitted through the ESFA enquiries service.

Holiday Play Schemes: Disadvantaged

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Department's press release of 22 June 2020 entitled Thousands of children to benefit from free meals and activities, what recent estimate he has made of the number of disadvantaged children in (a) Stockton-on-Tees, (b) the North East and (c) England who will be unable to access free holiday activity provision in summer 2020.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Department's press release of 22 June 2020 entitled Thousands of children to benefit from free meals and activities, what support his Department is providing to local authorities that were not allocated funding from the £9 million Holiday Activities and Food programme to be able to offer free holiday activity provision to disadvantaged children in summer 2020.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Department's press release of 22 June 2020 entitled Thousands of children to benefit from free meals and activities, by what date he plans to announce whether the Holiday and Activities and Food programme will continue beyond summer 2020.

Vicky Ford: Our Holiday Activities and Food programme is integral to our approach to provide healthy food and activities to children over the summer. We have announced 17 local authority areas that will benefit from this programme, providing thousands of children with access to healthy meals and enriching activities, and build on the success of the 2018 and 2019 programmes. Grant funding was allocated based on a competitive bidding process.We have worked with our Holiday Activities and Food coordinators to ensure that the programmes will support children and families through the disruption caused by COVID-19. We will set our future plans for this area in due course.Provision for free school meals is ordinarily term time only. However, owing to the COVID-19 outbreak, we fully understand that children and parents face an unprecedented situation over the summer. To reflect this, we will be providing additional funding for a Covid Summer Food Fund. This will support families with children who are eligible for free school meals to receive food vouchers covering the 6-week holiday period. The department’s guidance on providing free school meals during the COVID-19 outbreak is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools.We have also recently announced a £1 billion Covid catch-up package to directly tackle the impact of lost teaching time. £650 million will be shared across state primary, secondary and special schools over the 2020-2021 academic year. Schools are best placed to decide how this money is spent, but that can include, where appropriate, running summer schools.Following the confirmation from my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, that holiday clubs will now be allowed to reopen during the summer holidays, we have published guidance on community activities, holiday and after-school clubs, as well as other out-of-school provision for children over the age of 5. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.

Children: Academic Year

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his oral contribution of 16 June 2020, Official Report column 713, when he plans to confirm (a) how, (b) where and (c) over what period the £1 billion fund to create more high-quality childcare, after-school clubs and support during holidays will be allocated.

Vicky Ford: The department wants to give parents the freedom, support and choice to look after their children in the way that works best for them. That is why from 2021, the government will be investing up to £1 billion to help create more high-quality wraparound and holiday childcare places. We will announce further details on this new investment in due course.

Home Education: ICT

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Department's publication of 1 July 2020 entitled Devices and 4G wireless routers progress data as of 30 June 2020, if he will provide that data in relation to each local authority area in the North East.

Nick Gibb: The Government has committed over £100 million to support vulnerable and disadvantaged children in England to access remote education and social care services, including by providing laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers. We are providing laptops and tablets to disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examinations in year 10, receiving support from a social worker or are a care leaver. Where care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school and children in year 10 do not have internet connections, we are providing 4G wireless routers.The Department has ordered over 200,000 laptops and tablets, and allocated devices to local authorities and academy trusts based on its estimates of the number of eligible children that do not have access to a device. Local authorities and academy trusts are best placed to identify and prioritise children and young people who need devices. The Department has invited all local authorities and academy trusts to order laptops and tablets and 4G wireless routers. As of the end of June, over 200,000 laptops and tablets and over 47,000 4G wireless routers have been delivered to local authorities and academy trusts.The Department has delivered the following number of devices to local authorities across the North East for children with a social worker, care leavers and disadvantaged year 10s. The Department continues to deliver devices as orders are received.Local Authority Devices Delivered or Dispatched4G Wireless Routers Delivered or Dispatched Gateshead60481 Newcastle upon Tyne1827260 North Tyneside731142 South Tyneside711130 Sunderland1130171 Hartlepool671105 Middlesbrough961138 Redcar and Cleveland550148 Stockton-on-Tees755160 County Durham1697248 Darlington41049 Northumberland976146 Total 110231778

Pupils: ICT and Internet

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate he has made of the number of pupils eligible for free school meals in (a) Stockton-on-Tees, (b) the North East and (c) England who will not have access to (i) an appropriate digital device, (ii) an internet connection and (iii) data after his Department's roll-out of devices and 4G wireless routers is complete.

Nick Gibb: The Government has committed over £100 million to support children in England to access remote education and social care services, including by providing vulnerable and disadvantaged children with laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers. We have provided laptops and tablets to disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examinations in year 10, receiving support from a social worker or are a care leaver. Where care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school and children in year 10 do not have internet connections, we have provided 4G wireless routers.The Department has provided over 200,000 laptops and tablets to local authorities and academy trusts based on its estimates of the number of eligible children that do not have access to a device. These estimates were based on the proportion of disadvantaged children, an estimate of private devices ownership and an estimate of existing devices held by schools which could be loaned out to meet the needs of these children. Local authorities and academy trusts are best placed to identify and prioritise children and young people who need devices. Local authorities and academy trusts could request additional devices, if required.As of the end of June, over 200,000 laptops and tablets and over 47,000 4G wireless routers had been delivered to local authorities and academy trusts. This included 755 laptops and tablets and 160 4G wireless routers to Stockton-on-Tees local authority for children with a social worker and care leavers and year 10 pupils in local authority maintained schools.The Department has delivered the following number of devices to local authorities for children with a social worker, care leavers and disadvantaged year 10s across the North East. The Department continues to deliver devices as orders are received.Local Authority Devices Delivered or Dispatched4G Wireless Routers Delivered or Dispatched Gateshead60481 Newcastle upon Tyne1827260 North Tyneside731142 South Tyneside711130 Sunderland1130171 Hartlepool671105 Middlesbrough961138 Redcar and Cleveland550148 Stockton-on-Tees755160 County Durham1697248 Darlington41049 Northumberland976146 Total110231778 Devices have also been delivered to academy trusts which have schools in the North East for disadvantaged year 10 pupils.The Department has launched a service to provide children and young people free access to BT wifi hotspots until the end of December. 10,000 families will initially be able to access the scheme. We are currently working with BT to expand this offer to allow more children to access the internet through their network of BT wifi hotspots.We are working with the major telecommunications companies to improve internet connectivity for disadvantaged and vulnerable families. For families who rely on a mobile internet connection, mobile network operators are working to provide access to free additional data while COVID-19 requires children to learn from home and more social care services are online. For those in rural areas or without a connection, schools are able to draw on support from the BBC which is broadcasting lessons on television. Some of the BBC educational content is offline, via the red button.Schools may also choose to draw on the many resources offers which have been made by publishers across the country. The Department has published an initial list of high quality online educational resources, which have been identified by some of the country’s leading educational experts to help pupils learn at home.

Special Educational Needs: Speech and Language Disorders

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to ensure that funding is allocated to local authority areas to enable evidence-based catch-up interventions for children and young people’s speech, language and communication needs; and if he will make a statement.

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to ensurethat speech and language therapy services areadequately resourced to enable services to tackle the level of referrals as a result of the reopening of education and childcare settings.

Vicky Ford: In 2020-21, we are allocating £7.2 billion in high needs funding across England for children with complex special educational needs and disabilities, which includes those with speech, language and communication needs.Specifically, in response to COVID-19, we are introducing an additional catch-up premium worth a total of £650 million to support schools to rise to make up for lost teaching time. Our expectation is that this funding will be spent on the additional activities required to support children to catch up after a period of disruption to their education. Headteachers will decide how the universal catch up premium is spent to best meet the needs of their pupils. The Education Endowment Foundation has published guidance on effective interventions to support schools: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/covid-19-resources/covid-19-support-guide-for-schools/.We will set out how this funding will be distributed between individual schools shortly.Local authorities’ core allocations to support children with high needs in 2021-22 will also be published shortly.

Department for Education: Data Protection

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many data breaches his Department has reported to the Information Commissioner in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: The table below shows the number of data breaches that the Department reported to the Information Commissioner in the last 5 years. Report year (April to March)Number of data breaches reported to the Information Commissioner2015/201612016/201712017/201822018/201922019/20203

Education: Standards

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils in (a) state and (b) independent schools achieved the equivalent of AAA or better in each English region in each year since 2005.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is not available in the format requested.I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 9 July 2020 to Question 69679, which covered the percentage of pupils achieving 3 A*-A grades or better at A level by region between 2009-10 and 2018-19.

Secondary Education: Pupils

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils there were in (a) year 11 and (b) year 13 in (i) state and (ii) independent schools in each English region in each year since 2003.

Nick Gibb: The number of pupils by year group is available in the National statistics publication ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers.This includes the number of pupils by national curriculum year group for state-funded schools. National curriculum year group is not collected for independent schools, however the same publication contains the number of pupils by age at school, local authority, region and national level.

Outdoor Education: Coronavirus

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department’s advice on overnight stays on outdoor activity centres in (a) England and (b) Wales.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions his Department has had with HM Treasury on Government support for the outdoor activity sector following his Department’s advice on overnight stays.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent guidance his Department has issued on the operation of (a) Scouts, (b) Guides and (c) other children's extra-curricular activities as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Nick Gibb: The Department has published guidance for providers who run community activities, holiday clubs, after-school clubs, tuition and other out-of-school provision for children over the age of 5, setting out the safety measures that must be in place to ensure they can operate over the summer holiday: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.This follows confirmation from my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, that from Saturday 4 July these providers can operate, with safety measures in place.The guidance advises that children and young people can take part in outdoor activities in small, consistent groups of no more than 15 with at least one staff member. Out-of-school provision should not, however, offer overnight or residential provision for the time-being. This is consistent with the latest government guidance on meeting people from outside your household, (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/meeting-people-from-outside-your-household-from-4-july) which advises that you should not stay overnight away from your home with members of more than 2 households.Outdoor activity providers who have been adversely affected by COVID-19 can find out what financial support is available for their business here: https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder. They may be eligible for tax relief, loans or cash grants through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme or the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for example depending on their circumstances.

GCSE: Coronavirus

Mr William Wragg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will allow an appeals process which takes into account pupil-specific data for schools to challenge GCSE grades awarded during the covid-19 outbreak in 2020.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sally Collier, to write to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Training and Employment: Coronavirus

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how he plans to distribute funding to the most deprived communities for training and employment support as part of the Government’s post-covid-19 recovery plan.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the level of skills funding for adults at risk of unemployment due to the covid-19 outbreak; and what steps he plans to take to enable people to retrain for employment opportunities in their locality.

Gillian Keegan: We have been working across Government to build a package of support measures to boost skills among those who will be hardest hit by the labour market impacts of COVID-19. On 8 July, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced measures across a range of targeted work-based training offers to support people to build the skills they need to get into work in all communities across the country. This amounts to investment of £1.6 billion in employment support schemes, which will substantially expand existing provision. This includes:£111 million to triple the number of traineeships;£17 million to triple the number of sector-based work academy placements;Paying businesses to take on new apprentices – an extra £2000 for each apprentice under 25 and £1,500 for apprentices over 25;£32m to help 269,000 more people receive advice from the National Careers Service;£101 million for school/college leavers to study high value courses when there are not employment opportunities available to them.Over the course of this Parliament, we are also providing £2.5 billion (£3 billion when including Barnett funding for devolved administrations) for a new National Skills Fund to help people learn new skills and prepare for the economy of the future.We are continuing to invest in education and skills training for adults through the Adult Education Budget (AEB) (£1.34bn in 2019/20 and 2020/21). We will continue to explore options within adult education and will be making decisions on where we may be able to introduce flexibilities to aid the Post-Covid recovery.In areas where we have devolved the AEB, it is for Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) / Greater London Authority (GLA) to determine funding arrangements for adult education for their residents. We do, however, appreciate the importance of sharing, and where appropriate, co-ordinating, responses to attempt to ensure that providers, of all types, do not have their funding disrupted as a result of COVID-19. We are continuing to keep MCAs and the GLA updated on our skills response to COVID-19 through weekly conversations.Devolving the AEB enables MCAs to directly support adults in developing the skills that local employers need, reducing skills shortages, boosting productivity and economic prosperity, and improving wellbeing in communities.Within the AEB funding formula we pay a disadvantage uplift to provide extra funding to support the most disadvantaged learners, recognising that they are sometimes more costly to recruit and retain. The uplift is based on the learner’s post code and results in a funding increase for learners living in the most deprived areas of the country, as measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2015. There is also an area cost uplift within the AEB funding formula which reflects the higher cost of delivering training provision in some parts of the country, such as London and the South East.We fund education and training for 16 to 19 year olds through the National Funding Formula which includes extra funding for disadvantaged students. This funding is provided to institutions specifically for students with low prior attainment, or who live in the most disadvantaged areas. We also provide an area cost uplift to reflect the higher costs of delivering education in some parts of the country such as London and the South East.

Ministry of Justice

Terrorism: Sentencing

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of sentences for terrorism offences.

Chris Philp: The Government is committed to ensuring that sentences reflect the severity of the crime for all serious offenders. This year the Ministry of Justice conducted an internal policy review relating to sentences for terrorism offences in particular, which led to the development of the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill currently before Parliament. However, the terrorist attack in Streatham in February also highlighted a gap in our current framework which it was essential to address immediately, which we did through the emergency Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act.

Firearms: Prison Sentences

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will take steps to ensure that the offence of possession of a firearm in the context of violent retail crime results in an automatic custodial sentence.

Chris Philp: The Government takes the possession of firearms extremely seriously and is determined to tackle the possession of illegal weapons.Under the current law in England and Wales, anyone who possesses an illegal firearm can expect to face a custodial sentence. Those convicted of carrying a firearm in a public place, or possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, will face a minimum custodial sentence under the Firearms Act 1968: those aged 16 or 17 face a minimum of 3 years; those aged 18 or over face a minimum of 5 years.

Employment Tribunals Service: Equality

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to his Answer of 6 July 2020 to Question 66877, what the completion rate was of diversity monitoring forms attached to employment tribunal claims forms in each year from 2010.

Chris Philp: The information requested was not collated centrally prior to September 2018. The table below displays the information relating to the volume of online claims submitted from September 2018 to March 2020.Date RangeNumber of online Employment Tribunal claims submittedNumber of ethnic monitoring questionnaires completed% of ethnic monitoring questionnaires per claim submitted05/09/2018 31/03/201926066821301/04/2019 31/03/20205209615743Total7816223953 The above data was generated from information stored on the online application system.It is not used for internal or external purposes; therefore, the details are subject to inaccuracies, it is however the only/best data availableCompletion of the diversity questionnaire is not mandatory.We cannot provide information from 1 April 2020, as that information forms a subset of Employment Tribunal data that is part of Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) Official Statistics output, which will be published later in 2020 (statistics relating to April to June 2020 is due for publication in September 2020).

Timothy Slater

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the report, Independent investigation into the death of Mr Timothy Slater, following his release from HMP Hewell, on 24 October 2019, published by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman in April 2020.

Lucy Frazer: The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman concluded that the care offered to Mr Slater at HMP Hewell was of a good standard, but raised concerns about the fact that he was restrained when he was taken to hospital for treatment. The Governor of HMP Hewell has accepted and acted upon the two recommendations in the report and implemented a process. This ensures that, in accordance with national policy, decisions about the use of restraints are informed by risk assessments that fully take into account the health of a prisoner and are based on the risk they present at the time.Our thoughts remain with the family of Mr Slater.

Custodial Treatment: Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing the recommendations for the treatment of people in custody who are abstinent from alcohol, illicit substances and opioid substitution therapy and who wish to remain abstinent on release contained in the report Blueprints for the Treatment and Throughcare of Prisoners with Histories of Drug Dependence, published on 16 July 2019 by the Ex-Prisoners Recovering From Addiction Working Group.

Lucy Frazer: MoJ and DHSC are continuing to work together with partners to articulate a coherent picture of how healthcare is delivered throughout the criminal justice pathway, from the point of arrest through to release.In line with the recommendations from the Blueprints for the Treatment and Throughcare of Prisoners with Histories of Drug Dependence report, health and justice partners have worked collaboratively to achieve effective treatment services for prisoners recovering from addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. HMPPS are meeting with the NHS later this month to discuss how we use this unique period of Covid-19 to engage with prisoners who may have used this time to become abstinent.Furthermore, we have supported the 10 Prisons Project establishments to set up Incentivised Substance Free Living areas. These enable prisoners who can demonstrate – through regular testing – that they are not misusing drugs, to experience better living conditions. In addition, NHS England are currently rolling out RECONNECT services for those leaving prison to ensure that they engage with community health services to support them to avoid returning to the criminal justice system. This will help to improve the links in the community between healthcare and probation services including the probation service’s Through the Gate service.HMPPS and MoJ have also commissioned a £9 million joint health and justice Drug Recovery Prison pilot at HMP Holme House. The DRP is a whole prison approach to tackle the supply of drugs into prison; whilst creating an environment where prisoners have access to the full range of health services that meet individual needs and are given support to lead a drug free life while they are in custody and also following their release into the community.

Prisoner's Release: Drugs

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Government response to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs report on Custody-Community Transitions, published in October 2019, what recent progress has been made on recommendation 2 of the report of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs entitled Custody-Community Transitions, published on 12 June 2019.

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Government response to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs report on Custody-Community Transitions, published in October 2019, when the cross-Government working group set up to take forward Recommendations 1 and 2 of the report of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs entitled Custody-Community Transitions, published on 12 June 2019, last met.

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Government response to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs report on Custody-Community Transitions, published in October 2019, what recent progress has been made on recommendation 4 of the report of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs entitled Custody-Community Transitions, published on 12 June 2019.

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Government response to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs report on Custody-Community Transitions, published in October 2019, what recent progress has been made on recommendation 6 of the report of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs entitled Custody-Community Transitions, published on 12 June 2019.

Lucy Frazer: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) are committed to meeting the health needs of offenders in custody and the community, including those with substance misuse issues, mental health problems and those who are homeless. We welcome the publication of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) report on Custody-Community Transitions, and we are working closely with health partners to deliver the recommendations accepted by the government.A cross-Government working group has been formed in order to address recommendations 1 and 2. This work has been delayed due to the government’s re-prioritisation of resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but will progress over the next couple of months. The programme of work of the group will include planning improvements to the transition pathway from custody to community for vulnerable offenders. The current transition pathway will be assessed to ensure appropriate support is provided for people with substance misuse, mental health and homelessness problems. It will also explore increasing the number of individuals who continue with substance misuse treatment post release into the community.In response to recommendation 4, a ‘deep dive’ has already been conducted into Friday releases, but further development of the findings has been delayed due to the impact of COVID-19 on government priorities. While the deep dive did not conclude that changes to primary legislation would necessarily bring about improved outcomes or tackle the difficulties offenders face on release, further consideration, with our health and justice partners, is needed to explore what next steps will best improve resettlement outcomes.In regard to recommendation 6, face to face services are currently challenging due to restrictions implemented due to COVID-19. However, HMPPS is continuing to work with external partners to ensure that support is provided to those in need of treatment for substance misuse, and will continue to do so once restrictions have been lifted. We work in conjunction with NHSE on substance misuse services for prisoners in custody, and with Public Health England for Local Authority commissioned services in the community.Moreover, NHS England are currently rolling out RECONNECT services for those leaving prison to ensure that they engage with community health services to support them to avoid returning to the criminal justice system. This will help to improve the links in the community between healthcare and probation services including the probation service’s Through the Gate service. Current work includes the introduction of RECONNECT Pathfinders to support vulnerable individuals to engage with community based healthcare services.

Prisoners: Naloxone

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the level of consistency in access to naloxone for residents with an opioid dependency within Approved Premises throughout England and Wales.

Lucy Frazer: Naloxone is a drug that can reverse the effects and overdose of opioids, such as heroin, methadone, opium, codeine, morphine and buprenorphine and can be administered by health care professionals and appropriately trained staff. Medical professionals have been using naloxone in emergencies for many years and HM Prison and Probation Service ensures staff are aware of its appropriate use wherever necessary.The assessment and suitability of naloxone is a matter for the local drug agency. Approved Premises (AP) residents are permitted to use naloxone when prescribed to them by substance misuse services. In some prisons it is issued at the point of release to known opioid substance misusers, again by substance misuse services. Emergency Service responders arriving at an AP will also administer naloxone if considered appropriate. The National Probation Service (NPS) is currently reviewing implementation of the administration of naloxone by AP staff.HMPPS Wales are exploring with the Welsh Government and other devolved services the procurement of naloxone and the opportunities to train staff in Approved Premises in the nasal administration of naloxone. This is following Prison and Probation Ombudsman recommendations regarding the life saving benefits afforded by naloxone.The Government takes the mental health and wellbeing of offenders very seriously and we recognise that anxieties during the Covid-19 pandemic may exacerbate mental health needs and increase the risk of self-harm among offenders. We are continuing to work to mitigate this as far as possible.Within APs, we have continued our programme of work to support residents and staff to reduce risk of suicide and self- harm, including updated guidance and the identification of high-risk factors relating to quarantine and self-isolation. This approach is integrated into our exceptional delivery model and includes reviewed and updated safety and support planning for residents and updated distraction resource packs in every AP.

New Futures Network

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the New Futures Network has staff working specifically on the employment of women in and leaving prison; and whether it works with employers in women’s resettlement areas.

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department plans to publish a report on the work of the New Futures Network including the (a) number and (b) location of job placements, by gender, achieved under that initiative.

Lucy Frazer: The New Futures Network (NFN) has a full-time Employment Broker dedicated to forging partnerships between prisons in the Women’s Estate and employers. These partnerships provide businesses with individuals who are ready to take up work opportunities within industries workshops, as part of workplace Release on Temporary Licence, and employment on release.In addition, NFN has a Regional Employment Broker working in each prison group division across England and Wales. Regional Employment Brokers work closely with the NFN broker for the Women’s Estate, sharing employment on release opportunities generated in their geographical areas.NFN is part of HMPPS whose reporting follows an annual cycle. The available information on prisoners working in custody (which includes activity undertaken by NFN) is published in the HMPPS Annual Digest but is not broken down in the way requested. A copy is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmpps-annual-digest-2018-to-2019Additional information that provides a breakdown of national employment outcomes by number, location and gender is published in the Prison and Probation Performance Statistics. The Employment circumstances table outlines all community outcomes and provides location breakdown in table 2 and gender breakdown in table 4 for an individual’s employment status at the start of a community sentence. A copy is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/community-performance-quarterly-update-to-march-2019NFN intends to report on their work this financial year.

Offenders: Females

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to implement the Female Offender Strategy 2018 and support women’s transition back into the community through securing employment.

Lucy Frazer: The Female Offender Strategy (2018) set out our vision to see fewer women entering the justice system and reoffending; fewer women in custody, particularly on short custodial sentences, with more managed successfully in the community; and a custodial environment that enables rehabilitation. The Strategy contained an ambitious programme of work that will take several years to deliver.Two years on from publication of the Strategy we are making good progress. Achievements to date include: publication of a new Women’s Policy Framework; roll-out of new training for staff working with women in custody and the community; improvements to the preparation of pre-sentence reports; publication and ongoing implementation of the recommendations in Lord Farmer’s review into family ties for female offenders; undertaken a review of police forces’ responses to our guidance on working with vulnerable women; piloting a new offender management model for women under supervision in the community; commissioning research to inform our policy on BAME female offenders; and a review of the operational policy on Pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units, and Mothers separated from children under the age of 2 in prison, which is due to report shortly.In the last two years, we have invested £5.1 million of Strategy funding in 30 different women’s services across England and Wales, helping to sustain and enhance existing services, fill gaps in provision, and provide properties for new women’s centres.The Strategy recognised that work can provide a foundation for a different kind of life for offenders and our funding has supported this approach. For example, the Good Loaf in Northampton received Strategy funding to extend its social enterprise bakery, offering more employment opportunities for female offenders and ex-offenders.Most recently on 5 May 2020, we announced the investment of a further £2.5m in women’s community services in England and Wales in 2020/21 and that the first site of our residential women’s centre pilot will be in Wales.

Prisoners: Females

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in the event that covid-19 lockdown restrictions in prisons are maintained or re-imposed, what steps the HM Prison and Probation Service is taking to ensure that women in prisons are able to access support, education and training services; and if he will extend the use of (a) Purple Visits and (b) other digital solutions to the provision of support services in prisons.

Lucy Frazer: Since 24 March, prisons have been operating under restricted regimes, to comply with social distancing guidelines. The decision to implement these restrictions was not taken lightly - it was based on public health advice and mirrored the restrictions faced by the whole country, and we know the difficult impact this has on women, and particularly mothers in prison.But there is no question that the measures helped save lives and, as a result, some prisons are now able to begin easing restrictions. Through the Gate services which provide employment and accommodation support have continued to be delivered, with priority given to those nearing release, and those being released early through the Covid-19 early release schemes.While formal education and training programmes were temporarily suspended we have worked collaboratively with our partners to develop and provide a range of learning materials and distraction packs that can be used in cell to support continued learning during this period. Now this work is beginning again, and staff are using new ways of working to ensure they are delivered safely in establishments.Further resources tailored to the specific needs of women are currently in development, with women currently in custody having helped develop them.Work is currently taking place around future employment with the New Futures Network and within the women's estate a short/medium and long term strategy is being developed looking at how we can address ROTL and employment upon release.Psychology services have also continued to be available for priority cases and they have been delivered remotely using phone or face-to-face contact where it has been possible to facilitate this.HMPPS has put a range of digital solutions in place to support the working of the criminal justice system during the lock-down and to support prisoners maintaining contact with family and friends. These include additional video conferencing capability for conducting parole hearings and video calling for prisoners with family and friendsIn line with the recommendations of Lord Farmer’s reviews, we have prioritised the rollout of video calling in the women’s estate. Whilst this current video call service is a temporary measure, intended for use whilst contact with family and friends is limited, we are considering the benefits of maintaining these digital solutions in the longer term. This would help meet Lord Farmer’s recommendations and ensure that we have capability to manage any future lock-downs.

Treasury

Cooperatives: Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to make it easier for cooperatives to access capital; and if he will make a statement.

John Glen: The Government recognises the value of the co-operative sector, and has taken significant steps to support the growth of co-operatives right across the country. In 2014 the Government passed the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act, to reduce legal complexity for co-operatives and community benefit societies, and at the same time increased the amount of share capital an individual member can put into a co-operative society to £100,000. HM Treasury officials also hosted a ‘Mutuals Workshop’ with representatives from the sector in 2019, to understand the challenges faced by mutuals, including those related to attracting capital, and how Government can help to address these. We will continue to consider how we can best support the co-operative sector to reach its potential, and welcome the views of the sector as we do.

Coronavirus: Screening

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to stop HMRC treating employer supplied covid-19 testing kits as employee benefits in kind; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: The Government is introducing an income tax exemption and National Insurance (NICs) disregard to ensure that coronavirus antigen testing provided by an employer to employees outside the Government’s national testing scheme will not attract tax and NICs liabilities. The new exemption will apply across the United Kingdom for the current tax year 2020-21.

Members: Correspondence

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2020 to Question 69593 on Members: Correspondence, when he plans to provide a substantive response to the matters raised in the letter from the hon. Member for Glasgow Central of 6 May 2020 in relation to the covid-19 outbreak on food and drink wholesalers.

Kemi Badenoch: The Treasury responded to the Member’s letter on 21 June. The reply outlined the support available to food and drink wholesalers. However, given recent announcements which have enabled the reopening of the hospitality sector, I have asked officials to review your letter of 6 May and provide another updated reply shortly.

Bank Services: Fees and Charges

Drew Hendry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of banking sector's response to the Financial Conduct Authority's changes to the rules on overdraft charges on April 2020 in relation to (a) overdraft fees and (b) competition on overdrafts within that sector.

John Glen: The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is operationally independent from Government and carries out its functions, including its work on the High-cost Credit Review and reforms to overdrafts, within the framework of statutory objectives and duties agreed by Parliament. Decisions on overdraft fees are also commercial matters for firms and Government does not intervene in those decisions. In June 2019, the FCA announced new rules governing how firms can charge for overdrafts as part of their High-cost Credit Review. These include mandating that firms cannot charge more for unarranged overdrafts than arranged overdrafts, banning fixed daily and monthly charges, and a package of measures to improve the transparency of pricing. Firms were required to implement these new rules by 6 April 2020. Overall the FCA expects these changes to make overdrafts simpler, fairer, and easier to manage and will protect the millions of consumers that use overdrafts, particularly more vulnerable consumers. According to their analysis, 7 out of 10 overdraft users will be better off or see no change to their fees. In January, the FCA also wrote to firms to ask them to provide evidence of how they arrived at their pricing decisions and continue to monitor the market for harms to consumers. In response to COVID-19, on 2 April 2020 the FCA announced a series of temporary proposals to provide emergency support for consumer credit customers who were facing short-term cash flow problems as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak. The measures came into force on 14 April 2020. On overdrafts, the FCA expects firms to provide up to £500 interest free buffer for customers for up to 3 months if requested and make sure that all overdraft customers are no worse off on price when compared to the prices they were charged before the recent overdraft changes came into force. On 1 July 2020, the FCA published guidance on further proposals to support consumer credit customers. On overdrafts, the FCA will expect firms to offer customers who have been negatively impacted by Covid-19 the £500 interest-free buffer for a further 3 months. Firms will also be expected to provide further support for customers impacted by Covid-19 including reducing the cost of borrowing above the interest-free buffer, especially if this cost of borrowing would otherwise increase. Providers are ready and able to offer support to their customers who are impacted directly or indirectly by COVID-19. The Government encourages anyone concerned about their finances to contact their provider.

EU Action: Coronavirus

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2020 to question 69523, how many of the covid-19 response funds and initiatives for which the UK is eligible under the Withdrawal Agreement the Government has applied for to date.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2020 to Question 69523, which initiatives and funds which form part of the EU’s covid-19 response apply to the UK under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Steve Barclay: As the Withdrawal Agreement sets out, the UK is part of the EU budget for 2020 and will make contributions and receive receipts for the remainder of the year. Both the UK and the EU have confirmed that the UK has no liability to contribute to the wider €540bn package announced on 9 April. Additionally, the UK will not be exposed to liabilities in relation to the additional €750 billion which the Commission proposes to borrow on the capital markets from 2021-2024. The UK is supporting the EU's efforts to tackle coronavirus, and we'll meet our obligations through the Financial Settlement. But we do not intend to go beyond what we have agreed in the Withdrawal Agreement, because we have now left the EU. The Government is considering the EU’s budgetary response to COVID-19, and our decision to participate in any cooperation efforts or schemes with the European Commission, and other European and international partners, will always be made on the basis of public health requirements at the time.

Self-employment Income Support Scheme

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to extend the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme to people who claim a state pension and have trading profits that are less than 50 per cent of total income.

Jesse Norman: I refer the Honourable Member to the written answer to Parliamentary Question 49808 given on 2 June 2020: https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-05-20/49808/

Children's Centres: VAT

Ian Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the reduction in VAT from 20 per cent to 5 per cent announced in the summer economic update on 8 July 2020 applies to soft play centres.

Jesse Norman: Admissions to shows, theatres, circuses, fairs, amusement parks, concerts, museums, zoos, cinemas and exhibitions and similar cultural events and facilities are covered by the new reduced rate of VAT for attractions. This is set out in GOV.UK guidance on admission charges to attractions. This guidance includes examples of what is considered to be a similar cultural event. Whether the temporary reduced rate applies depends on the facts of each individual case.Further detail about the operation of the new reduced rate more generally can be found in Revenue and Customs Brief 10 (2020) on the temporary reduced rate of VAT for hospitality, holiday accommodation and attractions, which can be found on GOV.UK.

Payment methods: Coronavirus

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to return the use of cash to normal safety levels.

John Glen: The Government recognises that widespread access to cash is extremely important to the daily lives of millions of people across the UK. The Government is engaging with the financial regulators, including through the Joint Authorities Cash Strategy Group, to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on the UK’s cash infrastructure and remains committed to protecting access to cash for those who need it, while supporting digital payments. At the March 2020 Budget, the Chancellor announced that Government will bring forward legislation to protect access to cash and ensure that the UK’s cash infrastructure is sustainable in the long-term. The Government is engaging with regulators and industry while designing legislation, ensuring that the approach reflects the needs of cash users across the economy.

Payment Methods: Coronavirus

Mrs Flick Drummond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the decline in the use of cash and cheques as a result of the covid-19 outbreak on financial inclusivity.

John Glen: The Government remains committed to helping people and businesses through the present very difficult time that has been brought about by COVID-19.Financial services firms have announced a range of measures to support vulnerable customers and we are working with the Financial Conduct Authority to ensure there is continued support for these people. For example, many firms have methods for trusted third-parties to access cash. Anyone with questions should contact their banking service provider.The Government recognises that widespread access to cash is extremely important to the daily lives of millions of people across the UK. That is why, at the March 2020 Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Government will bring forward legislation to protect access to cash. This will ensure that those who continue to rely on cash can continue to do so in the long-term.

Treasury: Photographs

Layla Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to the public purse has been of private photographers for his Department in each of the last 12 months.

Kemi Badenoch: HM Treasury has not spent any money on private photographers over the last 12 months.

Revenue and Customs: Internet

Sarah Atherton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason there is not a direct debit option on the HMRC online account website to help employers (a) logging and (b) paying employee contributions that remain constant throughout the year.

Jesse Norman: Employers can pay their PAYE/NIC liability by Direct Debit. However, it is currently only possible to make single Direct Debit payments.This is because the amount owed can include elements which do not have to be reported to HMRC until too close to the payment deadline to allow HMRC to automatically collect tax due by Direct Debit. Even the most straightforward employer schemes may have variances in the amount due to HMRC throughout the year meaning a continuing Direct Debit for a set amount would not be appropriate.HMRC do recognise the benefits of enabling employers to pay this way and are looking at how they can overcome these issues in order to allow employers to set up a recurring Direct Debit.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Local Government Finance: Wakefield

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect on the (a) financial revenue raised and (b) costs incurred by Wakefield District Council as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Simon Clarke: Local government is an essential part of our response to Covid-19 and has mobilised to help us keep the country moving, protect the NHS and save lives, whilst delivering social care and other vital public services. We are providing local authorities with an unprecedented package of support, including £3.7 billion of un-ringfenced grants and the £600m Infection Control Fund. To date, Wakefield has received £20.49 million from the first and second tranche of unringfenced funding and received £3.54 million as part of the Infection Control Fund. We will write out to all councils setting out funding allocations and methodology for third tranche of funding shortly.In total, the Government has provided £5 billion in cashflow measures and almost £28 billion in additional funding to support councils, businesses and their communities. We have also announced measures to address councils’ lost income, including:A co-payment scheme to cover irrecoverable Sales, Fees and Charges income in 20/21 with the Government covering 75 per cent of losses beyond 5 per cent of planned incomePhased repayment of Collection Fund deficits over the next 3 yearsA commitment to determine what support is needed to help councils meet the pressures of irrecoverable tax income at the Spending ReviewIt is important that we carefully monitor the pressures councils are facing. We have now carried out three rounds of the Covid-19 financial monitoring survey and received data for every single authority in the latest round.We are extremely grateful for the continued collaboration from councils, which enables us to understand pressures at a national and local level. A summary of the data provided to us by councils in England from the first two rounds of monitoring can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority-covid-19-financial-impact-monitoring-information. We will publish the results from the third round of monitoring in due course.

Council Housing: Waiting Lists

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many people are on a council housing waiting list in each local authority area.

Christopher Pincher: The number of households on local authorities' waiting lists since 1997 can be found in Live Table 600 which is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-rents-lettings-and-tenancies.   The same household can be in more than one local authority waiting list.

Sleeping Rough: Coronavirus

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what long-term support he plans to provide to local authorities to house rough sleepers that were assisted during the covid-19 lockdown.

Luke Hall: Almost 15,000 vulnerable people have been housed in emergency accommodation, including hotels, since the start of the COVID-19 emergency. Building on this, Dame Louise Casey is spearheading a Taskforce to lead the next phase of the Government’s support for rough sleepers during this pandemic.The Taskforce has one overriding objective: to ensure that as many people as possible who have been brought in off the streets in this pandemic do not return to the streets.We also announced on 24 June that we are providing local authorities with a further £105 million to enable them to best support all those placed into emergency accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic.A further £16 million will also be provided so that vulnerable people currently in emergency accommodation can access the specialist help they need for substance misuse issues, in order to rebuild their lives and move towards work and education. This brings the total funding for substance misuse this year to £23 million.This funding is on top of the £433 million which we announced on 24 May to provide thousands of additional long-term homes for vulnerable rough sleepers. This ambitious commitment will be backed by £160 million this year, ensuring that 6,000 new housing units will be put into the system, with 3,300 of these becoming available over the following 12 months.

Property Development: Isle of Dogs

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason his Department did not publish the Viability Assessment for the Westferry Printworks planning proposal before the public inquiry of August 2019.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he commissioned an updated Viability Assessment for the Westferry Printworks proposal before his decision to grant planning permission in January 2020.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy for his Department to undertake viability assessments of planning proposals where affordable housing and site values are contested.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to publish a Viability Assessment of the Westferry Printworks proposal before the planning application is resubmitted to his Department.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of whether there are any wider implications for his Department's policies of his decision to grant planning permission for the Westferry Printworks site (PA/18/01877/A1); and what assessment his Department has made of whether that decision was compliant with Policy 3.12 of the Mayor of London's London Plan.

Christopher Pincher: Decisions on called in applications and recovered appeals are made on the basis of evidence submitted by parties, and the report and recommendation of the planning Inspector. In this case, the viability assessment undertaken by the appellant was the subject of evidence given by parties to the inquiry. Viability is considered in detail in the Inspector’s report.

Homelessness: Training

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2020 to Question 64913 on Homelessness: LGBT People, how many frontline homelessness workers took part in the training on issues facing vulnerable groups in the 2019-20; and whether the Government plans to provide that training in 2020-21.

Luke Hall: A skilled frontline workforce, capable of supporting an individual who may have a range of complex needs, is essential to delivering good services and ultimately reducing homelessness and meeting the Government’s commitment to end rough sleeping. That is why, as part of the Rough Sleeping Strategy, the Government committed to provide support for frontline staff working with those who are homeless.The Key Groups Training has been operating since Summer 2019. To date over 2,500 frontline homelessness staff have been trained across the five courses that make up the programme, including a package focused on LGBT homelessness. This includes staff in local authorities, voluntary organisations, commissioned and non-commissioned services and staff in homeless hostels.The training will continue to be offered free of charge to frontline homelessness workers until December 2020. We are currently working with training suppliers to determine the legacy of this project beyond this date.

Leisure: Children

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued to the children's activity sector on the reopening of facilities for children under the age of five from 4 July 2010.

Mr Simon Clarke: Providers of activities for under 5 year olds operating from multi-purpose community facilities should refer to the COVID-19: Guidance for the safe use of multi-purpose community facilities (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-purpose-community-facilities/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-purpose-community-facilities). Section 3a confirms Community facilities can open for the provision of services for children and young people, however they should ensure that people from different households can socially distance from anyone they do not live with or who is not in their support bubble, and should not facilitate indoor sports or fitness activity.Ofsted registered early years childcare providers have been open to all children since 1 June and should refer to the following guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures.Providers of activities for children aged over 5 years olds should refer to guidance on protective measures for out of school settings:(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak).

Ministry of Defence

Defence: Expenditure

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of investment in Aerospace and Cyber Security on spending across the (a) Army, (b) Navy, and (c) RAF.

Jeremy Quin: The Ministry of Defence has plans and funding in place to develop capabilities within the aerospace and cyber security of our Armed Forces, including the Future Combat Air System Technology Initiative, the F-35 programme, and wider cyber defence capabilities. The Integrated Review will continue assessing all aspects of our defence and security capabilities, including our approach to procurement and maintaining our technological edge against current and future threats.

Members: Correspondence

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to the letter of 28 May 2020 from the hon. Member for Glasgow North West on Commonwealth-born veterans applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK.

Johnny Mercer: The correspondence from the hon. Member was received by the Ministry of Defence on the 28 May 2020. The Home Office accepted transfer of this case on 1 June 2020 and will reply shortly.

European Fighter Aircraft

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what savings targets were set for the TyTAN support programme for Typhoon; what savings have been made to date; and how much of the savings have been reinvested into Typhoon capability upgrades.

Jeremy Quin: Awarded in 2016, the ten year £2.14 billion TyTAN support contract represents a savings target of 38% compared to previous support arrangements for UK Typhoon. To date, over £500 million of savings have been realised and ringfenced for Typhoon capability upgrades over the next ten years.

Department for Work and Pensions

Children: Maintenance

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when and under what conditions her Department plans to re-start enforcing actions to collect maintenance under the Child Maintenance Service.

Mims Davies: The purpose of the Child Maintenance Service is to facilitate the payment of child maintenance between separated parents. Paying parents are still expected to pay child maintenance. This was the case during the COVID-19 public health emergency and it remains the expectation as the UK gradually transitions into a post-COVID lockdown phase.Where payments have been missed we have asked parents to report the changes via the self-service portal.In order to ensure that receiving parents do not lose out in the long run, we are updating cases with notified changes. Where payments have been missed the Service is taking action to re-establish compliance and collect any unpaid amounts that may have accrued.Those found to be abusing the system are subject to the full extent of our enforcement powers and the Child Maintenance Service will pursue these, where appropriate.

Child Maintenance Service

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking with the Child Maintenance Service to ensure that victims of domestic abuse are protected from financial control.

Mims Davies: Holding answer received on 25 June 2020



The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is committed to ensuring that victims and survivors of domestic abuse get the support they need to use the CMS safely.Parents who have experienced domestic abuse are exempt from paying the application fee. There are no ongoing charges for using Direct Pay, which is designed to be a safe service for victims of domestic abuse.The CMS provides advice and support to help parents use the Service, without needing to have contact with an abusive ex-partner. This includes acting as an intermediary and providing information to parents about how to set up non-traceable payment methods. In addition, all CMS caseworkers have received specific training, developed with input from Women’s Aid, on domestic abuse so they can quickly identify parents who need additional support. Those found to be abusing the system are subject to the full extent of our enforcement powers and the Child Maintenance Service will pursue these, where appropriate.

Jobcentres: Staff

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the ratio of work coaches to work coach managers at jobcentres in each year since 2013.

Mims Davies: Holding answer received on 07 July 2020



Since 2013, the Department has worked within a 1:12 ration of Work Coach Managers to Work Coaches nationally.

Child Maintenance Service

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Child Maintenance Service plans to restart action against people who are avoiding payments.

Mims Davies: Paying parents are still expected to pay child maintenance throughout the pandemic period. We know the vast majority of parents take their responsibilities extremely seriously and will do whatever is needed to ensure their children are supported. Where payments have been missed we have asked parents to report the changes via the self-service portal. In order to ensure that receiving parents do not lose out in the long run, we have started to update cases with notified changes. Where payments have been missed the Service is taking action to re-establish compliance and collect any unpaid amounts that may have accrued. No one will get away with giving false information. Those found to be abusing the system can be subjected to the full extent of our enforcement powers and the Child Maintenance Service will pursue these, where appropriate.

Universal Credit

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average waiting time was for an application for universal credit to be processed in each of the last three years.

Will Quince: The latest available information on Universal Credit payment timeliness is published and can be found at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html

Universal Credit

Mhairi Black: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason claimants of universal credit under the age of 25 receive a lower rate than claimants over the age of 25.

Will Quince: We have injected over £6.5bn into the welfare system, including increasing Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit by up to £1,040 a year for everyone. This was in addition to the 1.7 per cent inflation increase which was part of the Government’s decision to end the benefits freeze meaning more financial support for millions of people across the UK, including those under 25. The Universal Credit rate for under 25s reflects the lower wages that younger workers typically receive. Universal Credit also includes separate elements to provide support for housing costs, children and childcare costs and support for disabled people and carers. These additional amounts are provided to claimants at the same level irrespective of age.

Universal Credit: Offenders

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that prison leavers (a) with and (b) without internet access are aware of the (i) alternative payment arrangements and (ii) other easements for payment of universal credit that can be granted for claimants undertaking employability programmes.

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether Jobcentre Plus work coaches receive specific training to support and provide employment advice to women prison leavers.

Will Quince: On making a new claim to Universal Credit (UC) all claimants, including prison leavers and those undertaking employment programmes, receive a follow up call to verify details of identity and discuss their individual circumstances, including financial circumstances and money management. As part of this discussion, alternative payment arrangements will be considered where appropriate, including benefit payments paid more frequently than monthly, and housing costs paid direct to the landlord. Those with an online claim also have access to a UC guide on their UC account. In addition, we have specific prison leaver UC guides - one for prison leavers and one for people supporting prison leavers:UC prison leaver guideUC prison leaver guide for those supporting prison leavers All DWP work coaches, including Prison Work Coaches, receive training to provide support and employment advice to claimants who have complex needs, including female and male prison leavers.

Universal Credit: Females

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will take steps with representatives of local authorities to ensure that universal credit is able to cover the costs of women in supported or temporary housing so that those women can progress into employment while remaining in their accommodation.

Will Quince: Housing Benefit provides housing support for people in temporary accommodation, or in supported housing where the local authority deems that the accommodation meets the specified accommodation criteria, subject to the usual entitlement conditions. If the local authority decides that the specified accommodation criteria has not been met, the claimant can claim for their housing support through Universal Credit. Where Housing Benefit claimants progress into employment, if they remain entitled to Universal Credit, their income is not taken into account for Housing Benefit purposes and there is no change to the amount they receive. If their Universal Credit claim ends, then their Housing Benefit claim is reassessed. Some of their earnings will be disregarded based on their personal circumstances. Where a claimant’s income, after the disregards, have been applied is higher than their applicable amount, Housing Benefit is reduced by a fixed taper of 65p for every £1 of additional income, meaning that they will always be better off in work. If a claimant continues to struggle to pay their rent, they can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment from their local authority.

Universal Credit

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant the oral statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer entitled Summer Economic Update, Official Report, column 973, what steps her Department is taking to increase the childcare offer for claimants of universal credit.

Will Quince: Holding answer received on 14 July 2020



Under Universal Credit, working families can claim back up to 85% of their registered childcare costs each month. This can be claimed up to a month before starting a job. For families with two children this could be worth up to £13,000 a year. Help with upfront childcare costs for starting work is available through a non-repayable Flexible Support Fund (FSF) award for eligible UC claimants, with the FSF receiving an additional £150m this financial year to help support UC claimants to move closer to or in to work. Help with upfront costs for eligible UC claimants is available through Budgeting Advances.

Jobcentres: Glasgow

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff at each (a) grade and (b) job title are employed at Shettleston Jobcentre in Glasgow East constituency.

Mims Davies: There are 69 full time equivalent (FTE) staff employed at Shettleston Jobcentre. The details are: Job title and gradeFTECustomer Service Leader (SEO)1Work Coach Team Leader/Jobcentre Customer Service Managers (HEO)5Work Coaches (EO)52Assistant Service Delivery Coaches (AO)11

Social Security Benefits: Coronavirus

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the temporary absence period in which benefits can be paid in relation to claimants of (a) universal credit and (b) housing benefit that have been stranded overseas as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

Justin Tomlinson: I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer given to question UIN 45162.

Materials Handling Equipment: Industrial Accidents

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the 20-metre crane that collapsed at Swan Housing Association’s Watts Grove development site in Bow on 9 July 2002 had been inspected by the Health and Safety Executive.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions his Department has had with the Health and Safety Executive on the crane that collapsed at Swan Housing Association’s Watts Grove development site in Bow on 9 July 2020.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions his Department has had with the Health and Safety Executive on potential steps required to ensure the safety of the affected site and surrounding area as a result of the crane that collapsed at Swan Housing Association’s Watts Grove development site in Bow on 9 July 2020.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions officials in his Department have had with the representatives from the Health and Safety Executive on the safety of remaining cranes at the Swan Housing Association’s Watts Grove development site in Bow.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions his Department has had with the Health and Safety Executive on whether an Inspector Prohibition Notice will be issued regarding the Swan Housing Association’s Watts Grove development site in Bow as a result of the crane collapse of 9 July 2020.

Mims Davies: This is a live and developing investigation and the well-established work-related death protocol for England and Wales is being followed. The Metropolitan Police are therefore leading at present, supported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). HSE will keep the department informed as appropriate, and work to prevent further incident and effectively secure justice. No Prohibition Notice has been issued but that will be considered if the investigation reveals circumstances requiring it. For the present, a Notice to Leave Undisturbed is in place across the site. Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), the Principal Contractor at the site is responsible for having the crane thoroughly examined before it can be brought into use. HSE had not inspected the crane that collapsed and there are no further cranes on this site. The collapsed crane and damaged homes are deemed to be dangerous structures. The immediate surroundings have therefore been evacuated, while the crane is safely removed, and dangerous structures made safe.

Universal Credit: Coronavirus

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has any plans to exclude one-time bonus payments for key workers in calculations for universal credit in recognition of their contribution to the response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Will Quince: The Government recognises that key workers have kept our country running throughout the response to the COVID-19 outbreak, from doctors and nurses to supermarket assistants and delivery drivers. All have played a vital part that we are truly grateful for. A Universal Credit (UC) award is calculated on the basis of the set benefit rate against money coming in to ensure fairness of treatment for all claimants against the money that they have earned in each individual assessment period. This means, as earnings increase, UC is gradually reduced. This is a long-standing principle of means-tested benefits. Bonuses are earnings for all workers and are treated in the same way as any other earnings. This is already true for tax and other purposes, regardless of whether or not an individual is claiming a benefit. All earnings are subject to the taper rate and the UC award is calculated on that basis.

Unemployment

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of improving the local delivery of unemployment support to (a) young people and (b) the long-term unemployed.

Mims Davies: Our Plan for Jobs builds on and bolsters the existing support offered by our Jobcentre Plus network. For young people the package includes a new Kickstart Scheme offering opportunities for high quality 6-month work placements, a new youth offer, and an expansion of sector based work academies. This package builds on our Job Help website that promotes guidance on areas such as identifying transferrable skills as well as extra information about jobs and other opportunities in different parts of the country, including local recruitments, jobsfairs and skills training. We also plan to introduce a new, large-scale employment offer for people who have spent longer out of work, giving them the help they need to get into sustained, fulfilling employment. The whole country has experienced the economic effect of Covid-19 but we know that some areas and some sectors of the economy have been more badly affected. DWP, along with other government departments, will continue to work in partnership with mayors, local government, businesses and charities, through forums such as local employment and skills advisory panels, to level up our economy and to make sure national programmes, such as the Kickstart Scheme, meet their economic needs. As part of our first response, we are working with local areas to invest £250 million from the European Social Fund’s reserve to help people, including young people and the long term unemployed, find jobs and learn new skills in England.

Carer's Allowance

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claims of carers' allowance have been closed due to the death of the person being cared for in each of the last five years; for how many of those claims was the recipient also in receipt of housing benefit; and how many of those carers allowance claimants received universal credit within (a) three and (b) 12 months of the death of the person whom carers' allowance had been claimed for.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Local Government Finance: North East

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's press release of 11 June 2020, entitled £63 million for local authorities to assist those struggling to afford food and other essentials, how much of that funding he plans to allocate to each local authority in the North East; and when he plans to issue guidance on the use of that funding.

Victoria Prentis: We are allocating the funding according to the size of a local authority’s population and the level of deprivation. The exact amounts will be published on the GOV.UK website in due course. We issued guidance to local authorities on Friday 10 July, which is available to view at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-local-authority-emergency-assistance-grant-for-food-and-essential-supplies.

Borders: Northern Ireland

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the EU commission on border control posts in Northern Ireland.

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assumptions his Department has made on the level of checks required at border control posts at Northern Ireland ports by his Department in order to comply with the Northern Ireland protocol of the Withdrawal Agreement.

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the costs  to his Department of the provision of land and buildings for border control posts at Northern Ireland ports after the transition period.

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the additional staff required by his Department to support the manning of border control posts at Northern Ireland ports after the transition period.

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the EU Commission on border control posts at Northern Ireland ports.

Victoria Prentis: The Command paper The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol (CP226) acknowledged the particular requirements under the Protocol on agrifood movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. It also said that the Government would make proposals to minimise requirements on agrifood movements. The UK’s applications to the European Commission for approval of facilities to conduct checks on agrifood goods at points of entry to Northern Ireland reflect those proposals. We are engaging with the Commission on both. The Government has confirmed to the Northern Ireland Executive in principle it will fund the costs of implementing agrifood checks, subject to business case approval.

Ports: Northern Ireland

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has submitted any proposals on border control posts at Northern Ireland ports to the EU Commission.

Stephen Farry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons the UK Government did not meet the 30 June deadline for the submission of proposals for the designation of Border Control Posts in Northern Ireland to the European Commission.

Victoria Prentis: The UK submitted applications to the European Commission on 30 June for approval of facilities to conduct checks on agrifood goods at points of entry to Northern Ireland. These are for the purposes of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures at Larne and Foyle ports, and for existing SPS inspection posts to be expanded at Belfast and Warrenpoint ports. These applications fulfil our obligations under the Northern Ireland Protocol.

BSE: Disease Control

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is his policy for England and Wales to be included on the World Organisation for Animal Health's list of countries at negligible risk of BSE at the 2021 General Session.

Victoria Prentis: England and Wales have been included on the World Organisation for Animal Health’s list of countries with a controlled BSE risk since 2008. Due to the need to prioritise efforts in gaining access to third country markets, work associated with EU Exit, and in recent months responding to the current COVID-19 pandemic, it has not been possible to develop and submit a dossier for England and Wales to be included on the list of countries at negligible risk prior to the deadline for the 2021 General Session. England and Wales will remain on the list of countries with a controlled BSE risk, and we will consider submitting a dossier in early 2021 to be included on the list of countries at negligible risk of BSE.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Data Protection

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many data breaches his Department has reported to the Information Commissioner in each of the last five years.

Victoria Prentis: There were no data breaches reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in all years except for the financial year 2018-19. In 2018-19, 11 personal data incidents were deemed sufficiently high risk to report to ICO, in line with the new data protection legislation introduced in May 2018.

Home Office

Domestic Abuse: Victims

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has produced for victims of domestic abuse on their safety during the covid-19 outbreak and period of social distancing.

Victoria Atkins: We are acutely aware of the need to put victims at the heart of our approach to tackling domestic abuse at this time. We are working closely with the domestic abuse sector to monitor and assess impacts and needs.The Government has posted advice regarding national helpline on gov.uk to guide victims to the most appropriate support for their individual needs. This has been extensively promoted through our awareness raising campaign #YouAreNotAlone.The Home Office has provided £2m of funding including to help bolster such helplines at this time; £1.2m of this has been allocated. This is in addition to the £750 million funding package announced by the Chancellor, £76 million of which will support survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and modern slavery as well as ensure that vulnerable children and young people continue to get the help they need. From this funding the HO launched a £2m fund for national and regionally based domestic abuse organisations, bids to which are currently being assessed.

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with her French counterpart on migrants illegally crossing the English Channel.

Chris Philp: The UK and France maintain a strong and active relationship on the issue of migration and those attempting to access the UK illegally, ensuring that the necessary support is delivered to vulnerable migrants whilst upholding security at our shared border. The Home Secretary met with her new counterpart, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, on the 12th July: both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to put a stop to small boat crossings and to returning boats to France rather than allowing them to reach the UK. Additionally, the ministers agreed to the creation of a joint intelligence cell to help deter and dismantle the organised criminal gangs facilitating these journeys.

Immigrants: Detainees

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the longest amount of time is that a person has been detained in an immigration detention centre among those detainees currently being so detained.

Chris Philp: The Home Office publishes data on people in detention in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’ (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release). Data on the longest length of detention of a person in detention under immigration powers as at 31 March 2020 are published in Table Det_03d of the ‘Summary tables’ (attached). The ‘contents’ sheet contains an overview of all available data on detention. A report on Statistics relating to Covid-19 and the immigration system, May 2020 (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-relating-to-covid-19-and-the-immigration-system-may-2020), released on 28 May 2020, provides further high-level information relating to detention and Covid-19. Figures as at 30 June 2020 will be released on 27 August 2020. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’ (https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics?content_store_document_type=upcoming_statistics&organisations%5B%5D=home-office&order=release-date-oldest).



Summary tables
(Excel SpreadSheet, 76.96 KB)

Detention Centres: Self-harm and Suicide

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many instances of (a) self-harm and (b) suicide there have been in immigration detention centres in each of the last five years.

Chris Philp: Staff at all immigration removal centres are trained to identify those at risk of self-harm so that action can be taken to minimise the risk. All incidents of self-harm are treated very seriously, and every step is taken to prevent incidents of this nature. Formal risk assessments on initial detention and systems for raising concerns at any subsequent point feed into established self-harm procedures in every IRC, which are in turn underpinned by the Home Office Operating Standard on the prevention of self-harm and Detention Services Order 06/2008 Assessment Care in Detention Teamwork (ACDT). Self-harm incidents requiring medical treatment in each immigration removal centre, for the last five years are shown in the table below. This is provisional management information that has not been assured to the standard of Official Statistics. Year201520162017201820192020  (up to 31 March)Number of self-harm incidents313295403398474149 These are the number of incidents of self-harm requiring medical treatment; they do not necessarily equate to the number of individuals requiring medical treatment as one individual may have received treatment on more than one occasion. Any death in immigration detention is subject to investigation by the police, the coroner (or Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) and the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.In the period 1 January 2015 to 8 July 2020 there have been three deaths of individuals detained in the immigration detention estate that have been determined by a coroner as a suicide on the balance of probabilities. Since 2018, information on deaths in immigration detention has been included in published immigration statistics on an annual basis. Data on the number of deaths of people detained under immigration powers in each year from 2017, are published in table Det_05 of the Detention summary tables.

Public Houses: Coronavirus

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received from the police on the reopening of pubs on 4 July 2020 as part of the easing of covid-19 lockdown restrictions; and if she will make a statement.

Kit Malthouse: The Home Secretary holds daily meetings with policing partners about a range of issues linked to the response to Covid-19. This includes the measures in place to ease restrictions on 4th July with the reopening of pubs and premises. We continue to work closely with the police to ensure the COVID secure guidelines for pubs, restaurants, cafes and bars set out the steps they should take to make sure people understand what they need to do to maintain safety. We expect people however to do the right thing and follow the guidance that will help keep us all safe.

Alcoholic Drinks: Antisocial Behaviour

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of changes to licensing rules on alcohol free zones.

Kit Malthouse: The provisions in the Business and Planning Bill currently progressing through Parliament include measures which will make it easier for licensed premises to expand outdoors by streamlining the processes for obtaining a pavement licence and a permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises. The provisions will not override existing alcohol-free zones previously set by local councils.

Asylum: Badersfield

Jerome Mayhew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to help ensure the safety of (a) asylum seekers and (b) other members of the public while asylum seekers are housed in Badersfield during the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Philp: For those asylum seekers in hotel accommodation the hotel services procured ensure access to a single room and all essential needs including three meals a day that cater to individuals’ dietary requirements, supplementary beverages, fruit and personal hygiene products. Where service users are isolating food is placed outside of their rooms, otherwise it is served in communal dining rooms with staggered meal times and appropriate marking to delineate social distancing. Providers are applying controls to further support social distancing, such as tape markings, and providing translated public health guidance and instruction to service users. Full laundry facilities are also made available to all. This replicates the services provided in most initial accommodation facilitates, although rooms there are shared where service users are not self isolating. In Dispersed Accommodation (and self catered initial accommodation), where the significant majority of our service users reside and consists of houses or homes of multiple occupancy accommodating small numbers, service users have been provided guidance to ensure they socially distance or self-isolate in line with the advice provided to the general public. Additionally, service providers have enhanced their contact management and wraparound services to ensure access to medical care, food packages and other essential items.

British National (Overseas): Hong Kong

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether people accepted under the proposed bespoke immigration route for British Nationals (Overseas) passport holders from Hong Kong will be eligible to apply for integration loans.

Kevin Foster: Integration loans are available for recognised refugees in the UK. Further details on eligibility can be found in the refugee integration loan guidance section on gov.uk. Further details of the new immigration route for British Nationals (Overseas) from Hong Kong will be released in due course.

Travellers: Trespass

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish the Government response to its consultation on measures to enable the police to tackle unauthorised encampments more effectively.

Kit Malthouse: I refer my Rt Hon Friend to the answer I gave to UIN 62648 on 02 July 2020 to the Hon Member for Sevenoaks.

Prevent Independent Review

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the independent review of Prevent is planned to recommence; and what plans the Government has to involve representatives of civil society in that review.

James Brokenshire: A full and open competition to appoint the next Independent Reviewer of Prevent was launched on 27 April 2020 and applications for this post closed on 22 June 2020. The successful candidate will be announced in due course. The Review will restart once the new Reviewer is in place. It will be for the new Independent Reviewer to decide how he or she wants to run the Review. In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, our priority will be to ensure that the Review can be undertaken properly and safely.Engaging with civil society organisations, members of communities and other external partners will be an important part of the Review.The way the Reviewer decides to involve civil society will reflect the prevailing circumstances in the country.

Travel Restrictions: Coronavirus

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of granting a further extension for people on a temporary visa due to the covid-19 pandemic, particularly where those people have underlying health conditions that may make international travel more hazardous.

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of granting a further extension for people on a Tier 4 General Student visa due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Kevin Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of granting a further extension for people on a temporary visa due to the covid-19 pandemic, particularly where those people have underlying health conditions that may make international travel more hazardous. 72226 To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of granting a further extension for people on a Tier 4 General Student visa due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Visas

Kate Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve efficiency in the processing of visa applications from the point at which a visa is granted.

Kevin Foster: We are always looking for ways to increase efficiencies throughout the visa application process, including how we can ensure customers receive, as soon as possible, the official documentation relating to the decision on their applications (a visa vignette in their passport and/or Biometric Residence Permit, if applicable).Currently global travel restrictions as a result of Covid-19 continue to have some impact on the application process however this impact will reduce as restrictions start to ease.

Wales Office

Coronavirus: Ethnic Groups

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the disproportionate effect of covid-19 on BAME communities in (a) Newport West, (b) Wales and (c) the UK.

Simon Hart: Public Health England published the outcome of its review into the impact of Covid-19 on Black And Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups on 4 June. The published findings are England-based, but the review considered the health and socio-economic factors in play across the whole of the UK. The Minister for Equalities is leading on the action that needs to be taken in light of these findings. The Welsh Government published its report on the socio-economic factors influencing Covid-19 health outcomes in BAME groups on 22 June. The UK Government is committed to working closely with the Welsh Government, and all the devolved administrations, in safeguarding our communities from Covid-19 and in addressing its impacts on BAME groups.

Cabinet Office

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what comparative assessment he has made of the number of deaths as a result of covid-19 in care homes in (a) the UK and (b) Germany; and if he will make a statement.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA response
(PDF Document, 69.93 KB)

Borders: Northern Ireland

Stephen Farry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the UK Government’s response to each of the proposed amendments to the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol made by the European Commission on 12 June 2020.

Penny Mordaunt: The Government is not seeking to renegotiate the Protocol, which depends on the consent of the elected representatives of the people of Northern Ireland. The Protocol must be implemented in a way that upholds the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and respects the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland.In terms of the proposed amendments, we will provide a fuller response once further discussions have taken place.

Import Duties: Northern Ireland

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether tariffs for at-risk goods will be processed at the ports between Great Britain and Northern Ireland once the Protocol comes into force on January 1st 2021.

Penny Mordaunt: Article 185 of the Withdrawal Agreement Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland sets out the provisions of the Protocol which take effect as of the end of the transition period. The Government's approach to the application of the Protocol is set out in the Command Paper, published in May 2020, including that internal UK trade should not be liable for tariffs. Additional guidance will be set out later this month.

UK Trade with EU

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Trade on the risk of legal challenge against the UK at the World Trade Organisation as a result of the Government's plans to phase in border checks on imports from the EU after the transition period.

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Trade on the (a) political, (b) legal and (c) reputational risks of a difference in tariff controls between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Trade on the effect of the Government’s post-transition period border plans on the Government's trade negotiations with non-EU countries.

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Trade on the level of risk of smuggling from the EU in the event that UK ports are not ready to carry out checks on imports.

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Trade on the UK’s plans for the customs border after the end of the transition period; and what steps the Government is taking to ensure that UK border posts are (a) effective and (b) comply with international rules.

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Trade on the potential effect on the Union of application of EU tariffs to all goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland after the end of the transition period.

Penny Mordaunt: I refer to the oral statement made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 13 July 2020. Details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed, in line with the practice of successive administrations.

Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 April 2020 to Question 34337, what recent progress the Government has made on the repeal the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011.

Chloe Smith: The Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011 led to parliamentary paralysis at a critical time for our country. It is for this reason that the Government made a commitment, in the manifesto and the Queen's Speech, to take forward work to repeal the FTPA. Announcements about the repeal legislation will be made in due course.

Prime Minister: Photographs

Layla Moran: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse has been of private photographers for 10 Downing Street in each of the last 12 months.

Chloe Smith: During the course of the year, 10 Downing Street hosts a number of events to celebrate the work of charities and mark initiatives such as Black History Month, NHS workers, Police Bravery, Pride, International Women’s Day and Girls’ Education. As part of this a freelance photographer is occasionally engaged for the primary purpose of taking photographs of the guests attending; these photographs are then shared with them after the event. This is since there are security restrictions on personal photography by guests. The cost of this over the last 12 months has been £5,100.Given the Hon. Member's interest in freelance photography, I also refer her to the answer to 28 November 2011, Official Report, Column 733W, by her Rt Hon Friend, the Member for Kingston and Surbiton.

Department for International Trade

Overseas Trade: Qatar

Scott Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to improve (a) trade links with Qatar and (b) investment in the UK from Qatari businesses.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: In 2019, total trade between the United Kingdom and Qatar was £7.2 billion, an increase of 37% (£1.9 billion) from 2018 and there are significant existing investment links between our countries. HM Government is committed to supporting more bilateral trade and investment. My Department will continue to work with our Qatari counterparts to identify ways to boost trade and investment and remove barriers to trade. To explore opportunities to support our bilateral trade, the United Kingdom-Qatar Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) has been established and, in June, our third Working Group took place with the Qatar Investment Authority to promote the United Kingdom as a top investment destination and discuss future investment opportunities.

Overseas Trade: Bahrain

Scott Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to improve (a) trade links with Bahrain and (b) investment in the UK from Bahraini businesses.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: In 2019, total trade between the United Kingdom and Bahrain was £1.3 billion, an increase of 10% (£117 million) from 2018 and there are significant existing investment links between our countries. HM Government is committed to supporting more bilateral trade and investment. My Department will continue to work with our Bahraini counterparts to identify ways to boost trade and investment and remove barriers. Through recent engagement, Bahrain simplified certification requirements for goods, enabling British businesses to continue to export to Bahrain during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Theatres: Coronavirus

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the scientific evidence he has received in support of the Government’s decision not to allow the reopening of outdoor and open air theatres yet; and whether he has made an assessment of the risks of covid-19 transmission at outdoor and open air theatres enforcing 2m social distancing compared with those at theme parks, open air gyms and outdoor markets.

Caroline Dinenage: We are committed to getting the performing arts sector fully back up and running as soon as it is safe to do so. It is a priority of my department to work with the arts and cultural sectors to address the challenges of reopening. The Secretary of State recently revealed a five stage roadmap that the government will work through to get the performing arts sectors back up and running as soon as possible:Stage One - Rehearsal and training (no audiences)Stage Two - Performances for broadcast and recording purposesStage Three - Performances outdoors with an audience and pilots for indoor performances with a limited socially-distanced audienceStage Four - Performances allowed indoors and outdoors (but with a limited socially-distanced audience indoors)Stage Five - Performances allowed indoors / outdoors (with a fuller audience indoors) On the 11th July, we moved to Stage Three. This means that performances outdoors can take place in line with this guidance. DCMS will work with sector representative bodies to select a number of pilots for indoor performances with a socially distanced audience, as we look to move into Stage Four. Capacity will be based on a risk management approach, and decided on by event organisations in consultation with local authorities. It will be limited to ensure social distancing guidelines can be adhered to. Venues should ensure that the government guidance on social distancing is followed at outdoor performances, including the limits on social mixing.

Local Government: Flags

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has had with local authority leaders to amend their guidance on flying the EU flag.

Mr John Whittingdale: DCMS is responsible for informing UK Government Departments of the designated days for the flying of the Union Flag throughout the year and in conjunction with FCO, No.10 and the Royal Household, informing Departments of any instructions on the half-masting of flags, any other flag instructions and silences. Guidance is sent to all UK Government Buildings and is published on GOV.UK. There is no specific Government policy regarding the flying of flags other than the Union Flag. Individuals, local authorities and other organisations may fly flags whenever they wish, subject to compliance with any local planning requirement.

Culture: Coroanvirus

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make it his policy to replenish the Art Council England funds that have been diverted to the emergency covid-19 response.

Caroline Dinenage: DCMS has worked closely with its arm’s-length bodies to deliver tailored support packages at speed, including the £160m Emergency Funding Package announced by Arts Council England (ACE) in March. In providing immediate support for this vital sector, it was necessary for ACE to make decisions on how existing budgets could be reprioritised, in light of the unprecedented challenges of Covid-19. DCMS will continue to support ACE in its hugely important role in supporting and developing England’s arts and culture, including in its upcoming role in the delivery of the £1.57 billion of new funding announced on 5 July, to provide support for key organisations across the cultural, heritage and creative sectors.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Data Protection

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many data breaches his Department has reported to the Information Commissioner in each of the last five years.

Mr John Whittingdale: Data Protection legislation introduced on 25 May 2018 makes it clear that organisations need to report personal data breaches to the Information Commissioner’s Office where there is a high risk to people’s rights and freedoms following the breach. The number of departmental data breaches that have been reported to the Information Commissioner during the last five years are as follows: 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2016: 1 case1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017: 2 cases1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018: 2 cases1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019: 1 case1 January 2020: 0 cases to date

Performing Arts: Coronavirus

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what funding his Department has allocated to stand-up comedy performers who have been unable to work as a result of the covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government appreciates that the Covid-19 pandemic presents a significant challenge to many of DCMS’ sectors, including the live comedy sector, which is why we announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency. The Government’s response has been one of the most generous and comprehensive in the world, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. The Government has adapted the welfare system so that the self-employed can access Universal Credit in full, to help people get quicker and more generous support when they need it most.